Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
09:38
Determining Immune System Suppression versus CNS Protection for Pharmacological Interventions in Autoimmune Demyelination
Published on: September 12, 2016
Treating the immune system to repair the brain
Michal Schwartz1, Tommaso Croese2
1Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Science Translational Medicine
|May 20, 2026
Summary
Next-generation therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neurodegenerative disorders focus on modulating the immune system, not the brain. This approach targets immune dysfunction to combat these complex brain conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Neurodegenerative disease research
- Therapeutic development
Background:
- Non-neuronal brain cells and systemic immunity are crucial in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other brain disorders.
- Immune system function shifts from protective to dysfunctional as neurodegenerative diseases progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore next-generation therapeutic strategies for AD and neurodegenerative diseases.
- To shift the therapeutic focus from direct brain intervention to modulating the immune system.
Main Methods:
- Review and discussion of emerging immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches.
- Analysis of the role of systemic immunity in neurodegeneration.
Main Results:
- Identification of immune system dysfunction as a key driver in AD progression.
- Conceptualization of novel therapeutic targets within the immune system.
Conclusions:
- Targeting the immune system offers a promising avenue for treating AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- Next-generation therapies should consider systemic immunomodulation for enhanced efficacy.
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