The Influence of Microglia on Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder in the brain that causes memory loss, which affects millions of people. This study aimed to gain an understanding of how microglia can protect neurons while being involved in the damage of Alzheimer’s. This was done through examining findings from peer-reviewed scientific articles focusing on the behavior of microglia, genetic influences, and inflammatory responses in Alzheimer’s disease. The primary finding of this research is that microglia can change their behavior as Alzheimer’s develops. Instead of being protective, microglia can be overreactive and release chemicals that lead to increased inflammation in the brain. This can contribute to Alzheimer's disease progressing quickly. Results show that genetic factors impact how microglia respond to stress in the brain. Recent studies suggest that when microglia discard unwanted proteins, they can be overwhelmed, which leads to more harm than help for brain cells. These findings show that future treatments work better if they can focus on the balance of the activity of microglia instead of only protein buildup. Understanding how to control microglia could decrease Alzheimer’s disease and protect the brain. Future research could explore ways to increase TREM2 and how microglia are involved in tau proteins.