CHICAGO -- Advances in research about the brain's immune system have helped uncover the underlying foundations of neuroinflammation. These findings were presented at Neuroscience 2019, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and understanding the causes and mechanisms are critical for treating them. Microglia, immune cells in the brain, are an important part of the body's immune system and its inflammatory response. Scientists are beginning to understand how microglia respond to damage and disease, and how this response can become disordered and/or harmful. Changes in microglial cells are noted in a wide variety of neurodegenerative diseases ranging from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to AD and other forms of dementia.
Today's new findings show that:
"This represents research that helps us understand the underpinnings and mechanisms of neuroinflammation," said press conference moderator Donna Wilcock, PhD, a professor at the University of Kentucky who studies vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. "We are only beginning to understand the complex interplay between the immune system and the brain, and we don't yet know how to manipulate it effectively. This research will further our understanding of these challenges and find a way forward to treat patients with inflammation due to disease or injury."
This research was supported by national funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health and private funding organizations. Find out more about Alzheimer's Disease and other cognitive disorders on BrainFacts.org.
Related Neuroscience 2019 Presentation
Symposium: CNS Scarring, Inflammation, and Repair
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1:30 - 4:00 p.m., Room S100A
Glia Press Conference Summary
Microglia-Triggered Plasticity of Intrinsic Excitability Modulates Psychomotor Behaviors in Acute Cerebellar Inflammation Gen Ohtsuki, gohtsuki@neurosci.biophys.kyoto-u.ac.jp , Abstract 554.09
Aspirin Upregulates IL-1Ra in Glial Cells via PPAR-alpha
Kalipada Pahan, Kalipada_Pahan@rush.edu , Abstract 539.07
Sensory Lesioning Induces Microglial Synapse Elimination via ADAM10 and Fractalkine Signaling
Dori Schafer, DorothyDori.Schafer@umassmed.edu , Abstract 469.19
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About the Society for Neuroscience
The Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians devoted to understanding the brain and nervous system. The nonprofit organization, founded in 1969, now has nearly 37,000 members in more than 90 countries and over 130 chapters worldwide.