Microglia are innate immune cells of the brain, akin to macrophages elsewhere in the body, but equipped to undertake an additional set of tasks relating to neural function. A range of evidence strongly suggests that the progression of neurodegenerative conditions is strongly driven by greater inflammatory activity in the microglia of older individuals. This is perhaps largely due to cellular senescence, perhaps largely due to greater adoption of the aggressive M1 phenotype. Underlying causes include greater leakage of the blood-brain barrier …
Transcriptomic Analysis of Microglia in Mice Shows Greater Inflammatory Activity with Advancing Age
Microglia are innate immune cells of the brain, akin to macrophages elsewhere in the body, but equipped to undertake an additional set of tasks relating to neural function. A range of evidence strongly suggests that the progression of neurodegenerative conditions is strongly driven by greater inflammatory activity in the microglia of older individuals. This is perhaps largely due to cellular senescence, perhaps largely due to greater adoption of the aggressive M1 phenotype. Underlying causes include greater leakage of the blood-brain barrier …