Glial dysfunctions in brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases
A common characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is neuronal cells loss in disease-specific brain regions, coupled with an abnormal increase in microglia and astrocytes. In healthy conditions, these glial cells are required to maintain brain homeostasis and protect brain integrity. Dr. Marsan’s research focuses on the contribution of glial and immune cells of the brain to the neuronal loss observed in the context of normal aging as well as in neurodegenerative diseases. To do so, she is comparing the transcriptomic signatures of different cell types from healthy individuals to patients with Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). She hopes to identify age-related pathological mechanisms that could be targetable by therapeutic interventions.
