synaptic pathology
Latest
More than Bystanders in Dementia, Learning What Microglia Do
Genome-wide association studies implicate microglia in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis, but how microglia contribute to cognitive decline in AD is unclear. Emerging research suggests microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, to be active participants in brain wiring. One mechanism by which microglia help eliminate synapses is through the classical complement pathway (C1q, CR3/C3). Data from multiple laboratories collectively suggest that there may be an aberrant reactivation of the complement-dependent pruning pathway in multiple models of neurologic diseases including AD. These data altogether suggest that microglia participate in synaptic pathology. However, how and which synapses are targeted are unknown. Furthermore, whether microglia directly impair synaptic function is unknown. Primary goals of my laboratory are to understand how higher cognitive functions such as learning and memory involve microglial biology in the healthy adult brain and dissect immune mechanisms behind the region-specific vulnerability of synapse loss and neuronal dysfunction during disease. Mechanistic insight into local signals that regulate neuroglia interactions will be key to developing potential therapeutic avenues to target in disease.
MICROGLIA GABA<SUB>B1</SUB> SIGNALING LINKS PARVALBUMIN INTERNEURON HYPERACTIVITY TO SYNAPTIC PATHOLOGY IN ALZHEIMER DISEASE
FENS Forum 2026
synaptic pathology coverage
2 items
Share your knowledge
Know something about synaptic pathology? Help the community by contributing seminars, talks, or research.
Contribute contentExplore how synaptic pathology research is advancing inside Neuroscience.
Visit domain