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Analysis of human brain tissue reveals differences in how immune cells behave in brains with Alzheimer's disease compared to healthy brains, indicating a potential new treatment target.
University of Washington-led research, published in August, discovered microglia in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease were in a pre-inflammatory state more frequently, making them less likely to be protective.
Microglia are immune cells that help keep our brains healthy by clearing waste and preserving normal brain function.
In response to infection or to clear out dead cells, these nifty shape-shifters can become less spindly and more mobile to engulf invaders and rubbish. They also 'prune' synapses during development, which helps shape the circuitry for our brains to function well.
It's less certain what part they play in Alzheimer's, but in people with the devastating neurodegenerative disease, some microglia respond too strongly and may cause inflammation that contributes to the death of brain cells.
Unfortunately, clinical trials of anti-inflammatory medications for Alzheimer's haven't shown significant effects.
www.sciencealert.com
University of Washington-led research, published in August, discovered microglia in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease were in a pre-inflammatory state more frequently, making them less likely to be protective.
Microglia are immune cells that help keep our brains healthy by clearing waste and preserving normal brain function.
In response to infection or to clear out dead cells, these nifty shape-shifters can become less spindly and more mobile to engulf invaders and rubbish. They also 'prune' synapses during development, which helps shape the circuitry for our brains to function well.
It's less certain what part they play in Alzheimer's, but in people with the devastating neurodegenerative disease, some microglia respond too strongly and may cause inflammation that contributes to the death of brain cells.
Unfortunately, clinical trials of anti-inflammatory medications for Alzheimer's haven't shown significant effects.
Brain Autopsies Suggest a New Culprit Behind Alzheimer's Disease
Analysis of human brain tissue reveals differences in how immune cells behave in brains with Alzheimer's disease compared to healthy brains, indicating a potential new treatment target.
www.sciencealert.com
