Microglia and amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease – Evidence, possible mechanisms, and future challenges

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline that severely affects patients and their families. Genetic and environmental risk factors, such as viral infections, synergize to accelerate the aging-associated neurodegeneration. Genetic risk factors for late-onset AD (LOAD), which accounts for most AD cases, are predominantly implicated in microglial and immune cell functions. As such, microglia play a major role in amyloid beta (A β) plaque (the major pathological hallmark of AD) formation.
Source: Journal of Neuroimmunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research