Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
09:41
Obtaining Human Microglia from Adult Human Brain Tissue
Published on: August 30, 2020
Microglia in Alzheimer brain: a neuropathological perspective
1Department of Pathology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
International Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease
|June 2, 2012
Summary
Microglia, immune cells in the brain, are activated near Alzheimer's disease lesions like amyloid plaques. This inflammation may play a role in Alzheimer's disease initiation and progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Microglia are resident immune cells in the brain.
- Microglial activation is observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains.
- These activated microglia are associated with AD neuropathology, including amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.
- To understand the association of activated microglia with AD lesions and risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Neuropathological examination of Alzheimer's disease brains.
- Correlation analysis of microglial distribution with Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
- Assessment of microglial activation markers, such as interleukin-1.
Main Results:
- Activated microglia, overexpressing interleukin-1, are consistently found near Aβ plaques in early and mid-stage AD.
- Microglial association with plaques declines in end-stage disease.
- Microglial activation is also prevalent in conditions associated with increased AD risk, such as aging, head injury, and diabetes.
Conclusions:
- Neuroinflammation, driven by activated microglia, is a significant component of Alzheimer's disease.
- Microglial activation may contribute to the initiation and progression of Alzheimer's disease.
- Further research into neuroinflammatory processes is crucial for understanding and treating AD.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...