Genes, Drugs, and Microglia: What tips the balance in Alzheimer's disease?
Microglia have recently emerged as a critical player in numerous neural processes, including
neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, injury, repair, and neurological disorders.
Dysregulation of microglia contributes to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's
disease, via both loss of homeostatic functions and gain of neurotoxic functions. Many
different genetic and environmental factors may tip the balance from normal brain aging to
Alzheimer's disease by modulating microglia functions. This talk will highlight two specific
genetic and environmental factors that are associated with increased or decreased risk for
Alzheimer's disease in humans: variants in the gene PLCG2 and calcium channel blocking
drugs. Our findings suggest that these factors may influence the development of Alzheimer's disease
pathology and cognitive decline through their effects on microglia function but also on shared
molecular processes in other neural and
immune cells.
