Mapping microglial mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease: a comprehensive analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Bibliometrics
• Alzheimer's Disease Research

Background:

• Microglia, the brain's immune cells, are central to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis.
• Existing research on microglia in AD is extensive but lacks systematic synthesis.
• Understanding microglial roles is vital for advancing AD mechanistic understanding and therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify research hotspots and trends in microglia-related AD studies.
• To analyze underlying mechanisms of microglial involvement in AD pathogenesis.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of global contributions and influential research.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 1,043 articles on microglia and AD from the Web of Science Core Collection.
• Utilized WoSCC platform and CiteSpace 6.3.R1 for analysis.
• Focused on global collaboration, institutional/journal contributions, keyword bursts, and high-impact articles.

Main Results:

• The United States leads in publications (484 articles) and influence (H-index 100), followed by China (276 articles).
• University of California system and Harvard University show highest output and impact.
• Journal of Neuroinflammation is the leading publication venue; 'memory,' 'NLRP3 inflammasome,' and 'system' are key research hotspots.

Conclusions:

• Microglial mechanisms, including NLRP3 activation, system-level interactions, and memory impairment, are critical research frontiers in AD.
• The US and China dominate the field, with specific universities and journals being highly influential.
• This bibliometric analysis provides a roadmap for future research focusing on microglial mechanisms and therapeutic targets in AD.