Researchers at the University of Lubeck in Germany have developed a nasal spray, which they claim boosts memory. The spray contains a molecule found in the immune system called interleukin 6.
A study on 17 healthy young men showed that using the inhaler before bed time helps the brain retain memories during sleep. All participants were given either interleukin-6 or a dummy liquid after hearing a short story and were asked to rest.
On the following morning they were asked to write down as many words of the story as they remembered. Participants given the interleukin-6 spray did significantly better in the tests compared to those given the placebo.
The details of the study appear in the journal, Federation of the American Societies for Experimental Biology.