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microglia

Featured Neuroscience

·November 25, 2013·3 min read

A New Kind of Genetic Switch Can Target the Activities of Just One Type of Brain Cell

Microglia plays crucial roles both in healthy and diseased brains, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 25, 2013·6 min read

Common Brain Cell Plays Key Role in Shaping Neural Circuits

Astrocytes actively refine neural circuits by selectively eliminating synapses, a new study reports.

Featured Genetics

·November 14, 2013·3 min read

New Study Identifies Genes Uniquely Expressed by the Brain’s Immune Cells

Researchers use a novel sequencing method to identify a group of genes used by microglia to sense pathogenic organisms, toxins and damaged neurons.

This image shows amyloid beta plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Featured Neurology

·July 1, 2013·4 min read

Lack of Immune Cell Receptor Impairs Clearance of Amyloid Beta Protein from the Brain

Researchers discover increased expression of the Scara1 protein could impede the progression of Alzheimer's disease as it plays an important role in the removal of amyloid beta from the brain.

The image shows microglial cells in a brain slice.

Featured Neurology

·April 15, 2013·2 min read

Research Sheds New Light on Traumatic Brain Injuries

A new study supports p38α MAPK as a possible clinical target for treating central nervous system disorders associated with uncontrolled brain inflammation, including TBI.

The image shows a brain slice with amyloid plaques stained.

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·April 11, 2013·2 min read

New Findings on the Brain’s Immune Cells During Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

As Alzheimer's disease progresses, microglial cells lose two important biological functions affecting their ability to remove cell fragments and motility towards acute lesions.

Featured Neurology

·January 15, 2013·2 min read

Major Step Toward an Alzheimer’s Vaccine

Researchers discovered a way to stimulate the brain's natural defense mechanisms in mice with Alzheimer's disease symptoms. This major breakthrough opens the door to the development of a treatment for Alzheimer's disease and a vaccine to prevent the illness.

Featured Neurology

·October 21, 2012·5 min read

Natural Process Activating Brain’s Immune Cells Could Point Way to Repairing Damaged Brain

The brain’s key “breeder” cells secrete substances that boost the numbers and strength of critical brain-based immune cells believed to play a vital role in brain health. This finding adds a new dimension to our understanding of how resident stem cells and stem cell transplants may improve brain function.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 16, 2012·3 min read

Attack! Silent Watchmen Charge to Defend the Nervous System

Research provides the first evidence that mechanisms regulated by the Runx1 gene control the balance between the surveillant versus activated microglia states.