Phagocytes in the brain

[parkie13]

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Interesting article that I believe opens up a can of worms.

[lempa_nik]

Hi Parkie13, Pardon me, but this article was a head-scratcher. There was a complete disconnect between the description of this research in the article, and the summary conclusion given by the main researcher.

As sketched in the article, the research only demonstrated how gene-based disruption of microglial cells' normal capacity led to malfunction: failure of cellular garbage disposal, as well as loss of glucose consumption and of blood supply to the brain. But then the article quotes an upbeat projection by the researcher, Dr Haass: "We believe that our data provide the rationale for a new approach to the development of effective therapies, based on boosting the defense response of the microglia. If we succeed in enhancing this function, either by pharmacological or other means, it might be possible to delay the onset of dementias." The only trouble: this rosy outlook is a complete non-sequitor from the described research, which did not imply any such thing. Either the lead researcher is daydreaming, or else the article omitted key parts of the research.