Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous System
Microglia play a curious role in the nervous system. Their role is intrinsically protective and supportive, but during neurodegenerative disease, it is well established that microglia play a significant role in the initiation of neuronal death. Microglia, like neurons, show age-related changes that...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2009-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.111 |
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| _version_ | 1849684667438989312 |
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| author | David R. Brown |
| author_facet | David R. Brown |
| author_sort | David R. Brown |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microglia play a curious role in the nervous system. Their role is intrinsically protective and supportive, but during neurodegenerative disease, it is well established that microglia play a significant role in the initiation of neuronal death. Microglia, like neurons, show age-related changes that could potentially alter their behavior. While extreme changes to a large population of microglia cause dramatic neuronal loss in neurodegeneration, during normal aging, subtle changes not unlike those seen in the disease state could potentially contribute to a more gradual neuronal loss that could contribute to the cognitive decline seen in the aging population. This review provides illustrations of what is known about the role of microglia in neurodegeneration and makes suggestions about the role of microglia in age-related changes to the brain. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c122e08aa60e46de934bb1ea7b90a038 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2009-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-c122e08aa60e46de934bb1ea7b90a0382025-08-20T03:23:24ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2009-01-0191061107110.1100/tsw.2009.111Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous SystemDavid R. Brown0Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, United KingdomMicroglia play a curious role in the nervous system. Their role is intrinsically protective and supportive, but during neurodegenerative disease, it is well established that microglia play a significant role in the initiation of neuronal death. Microglia, like neurons, show age-related changes that could potentially alter their behavior. While extreme changes to a large population of microglia cause dramatic neuronal loss in neurodegeneration, during normal aging, subtle changes not unlike those seen in the disease state could potentially contribute to a more gradual neuronal loss that could contribute to the cognitive decline seen in the aging population. This review provides illustrations of what is known about the role of microglia in neurodegeneration and makes suggestions about the role of microglia in age-related changes to the brain.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.111 |
| spellingShingle | David R. Brown Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous System The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous System |
| title_full | Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous System |
| title_fullStr | Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous System |
| title_short | Role of Microglia in Age-Related Changes to the Nervous System |
| title_sort | role of microglia in age related changes to the nervous system |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.111 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidrbrown roleofmicrogliainagerelatedchangestothenervoussystem |