On April 16, 2014 Neuron Journal published results of 2013 New Investigator in Alzheimer’s Disease grantee Kim Green, PhD’s, groundbreaking study, which was partially funded by AFAR.
Dr. Green’s research examined the role neuroinflammation plays in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
In a study performed on wild mice, Dr. Green removed all of the brain’s main immunity defense cells, microglia, through the use of a molecule inhibitor. Dr. Green and his team found that once the inhibitor was removed a new set of microglia developed out of the brain’s largest pool of stem cells.
This research is significant because it is the first of its kind to successful remove microglia cells without damaging other parts of the brain. Researchers look forward to exploring how the ability to replace all the microglia in aged brains with a younger, and presumably healthier set may affect breakthroughs in neurodegenerative research.
More information on this AFAR funded study can be found here.
Kim Green, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine.
For the latest information on Alzheimer’s disease research please visit our disease specific InfoAging page.
