Scientists discover gene signature responsible for plaque-eating microglia in Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists discover gene signature responsible for plaque-eating microglia in Alzheimer’s Disease
Confocal microscopic image of microglia (green) engulfing amyloid plaques (blue). Credit: Duke-NUS Medical School

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by the build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain. Microglia, the immune sentinels of the brain, are not only responsible for eliminating foreign invaders, but also maintaining brain homeostasis by clearing toxic waste such as the amyloid plaques.

However, the role of in Alzheimer’s disease and its relationship to amyloid plaque accumulation remain unclear. Now, a team of scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and Monash University have found the gene expression…

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