Inflammation As a Central Mechanism in Alzheimer's Disease

Overview

Journal Alzheimers Dement (N Y)

Date 2018 Nov 9

PMID 30406177

Citations 875

Authors

Jefferson W Kinney

Shane M Bemiller

Andrew S Murtishaw

Amanda M Leisgang

Arnold M Salazar

Bruce T Lamb

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by cognitive decline and the presence of two core pathologies, amyloid β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Over the last decade, the presence of a sustained immune response in the brain has emerged as a third core pathology in AD. The sustained activation of the brain's resident macrophages (microglia) and other immune cells has been demonstrated to exacerbate both amyloid and tau pathology and may serve as a link in the pathogenesis of the disorder. In the following review, we provide an overview of inflammation in AD and a detailed coverage of a number of microglia-related signaling mechanisms that have been implicated in AD. Additional information on microglia signaling and a number of cytokines in AD are also reviewed. We also review the potential connection of risk factors for AD and how they may be related to inflammatory mechanisms.

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