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microglia

·May 4, 2025·12 min read

Why Alcohol Hits Women Harder

Alcohol use among women has surged to match men’s rates, but women face far greater health risks even at lower consumption levels. A growing body of research is uncovering key neurobiological sex differences that influence why and how women drink, with stress being a more prominent motivator for women.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·5 min read

Microglia Reprogrammed to Deliver Precision Alzheimer’s Therapies

Researchers have developed engineered human microglia that detect disease-related brain changes and release therapeutic proteins precisely where needed. Using CRISPR technology, the team programmed these cells to secrete an enzyme that breaks down beta-amyloid plaques only in affected areas.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 10, 2025·5 min read

Blocking Tim-3 Boosts Microglia in Alzheimer’s

New research reveals that the immune checkpoint molecule Tim-3 plays a critical role in how microglia, the brain’s immune cells, respond to Alzheimer’s disease. While Tim-3 normally helps maintain brain homeostasis, it can also inhibit microglia from clearing harmful plaques that accumulate in Alzheimer’s.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 3, 2025·4 min read

Brain Changes From Early-Life Stress May Be Reversible

A new study reveals how prenatal infections followed by early-life stress—known as "two-hit stress"—can lead to brain dysfunction and psychiatric-like behaviors. Researchers found that affected mice showed abnormal cerebellar activity, increased microglial turnover, and impaired brain-wide connectivity.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 21, 2025·5 min read

Microglia Act Differently in Male and Female Brains

Microglia, the brain’s immune cells, play vital roles in clearing toxins and maintaining neuronal health but can also contribute to neurodegenerative diseases if overactive. New research reveals sex-based differences in how adult male and female microglia respond to the enzyme inhibitor PLX3397, a common tool in microglial research. While male microglia showed the expected depletion, female microglia employed alternative signaling pathways, leading to increased survival.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 17, 2024·4 min read

Microglia Found to Protect Neurons Post-Spinal Cord Injury

Researchers discovered a neuroprotective mechanism in spinal cord injury (SCI) involving microglia, the brain’s immune cells, which could provide new therapeutic targets. Using advanced in vivo imaging, the team revealed that microglia form protective wraps around injured axons, preventing further damage. This interaction, regulated by P2Y12 receptors and sodium channels, sheds light on neuron-glia communication after injury. The study's insights into spinal cord protection could eventually lead to new treatments for SCI and related neurological diseases.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 12, 2024·4 min read

New Target for Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Identified

Researchers discovered a druggable target that could prevent autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury. The research found that microglia cells control abnormal nerve growth and autonomic reflexes. By depleting microglia in a mouse model, researchers prevented life-threatening complications. This finding could lead to new therapies for spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions.

This shows a doctor looking at brain scans.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 3, 2024·6 min read

Immunotherapy Shows Promise as Alzheimer’s Treatment

Researchers unveiled a novel approach to combat Alzheimer’s disease by activating microglia, the brain's immune cells, to devour amyloid beta plaques, a hallmark of the condition. This study highlights the potential of using immunotherapy to not only tackle Alzheimer’s but also other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by harmful protein accumulations.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 20, 2024·4 min read

Microglia Are Key Players in Awakening the Brain Post-Anesthesia

Microglia, the central nervous system's immune cells, are crucial in helping the brain recover from anesthesia. By interacting directly with brain circuits and inhibitory synapses, microglia work to counteract sedation effects, offering new insights into managing post-anesthesia delirium and hyperactivity.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 15, 2023·6 min read

Microglia’s Crucial Role in Human Brain Development

Researchers discovered the essential role of microglia, brain immune cells, in early human brain development by incorporating them into lab-grown brain organoids. This breakthrough allows scientists to understand how microglia influence brain cell growth and development, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of brain development and disorders.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 19, 2023·5 min read

Aging in the Brain: Microglial Changes Differ Between Sexes

Researchers delved into how microglial cells in the brain age and their link to brain dysfunction. Their study, using male and female mice, found surprising sex-based distinctions in microglial aging.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 19, 2023·6 min read

Motherly Love? Immune System Changes May Play a Role

Changes in the immune system during pregnancy, specifically the decrease of immune cells known as microglia, may contribute to the onset of maternal behavior. Depletion of microglia in female rats, who typically dislike being around offspring, led to accelerated care for newborn rats placed in their cages.