Macrophages found in the body and microglia present in the brain play crucial roles as innate immune cells, responsible for various functions including the clearance of metabolic waste. With age, these cells often become less effective in their tasks, leading to conditions like atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Is there a way to enhance the resilience of these cells in the aging tissue environment, reduce inflammation, and improve waste clearance capabilities? Recent research suggests it may be possible.
Research indicates that Alzheimer’s disease risk alleles and genes could impact disease susceptibility by influencing the responses of macrophages, including microglia, to damage in lipid-rich tissues like the brain. Studies have identified specific transcriptional activation states in subsets of macrophages in aging brains and diseased tissues, collectively referred to as DLAMs. These findings offer insights into potential therapeutic targets for manipulating macrophage and microglial function in diseases affecting lipid-rich tissues.
