Astroglial atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease

摘要: Astrocytes, a class of morphologically and functionally diverse primary homeostatic neuroglia, are key keepers neural tissue homeostasis fundamental contributors to brain defence in pathological contexts. Failure astroglial support facilitate the evolution neurological diseases, which often results aberrant synaptic transmission, neurodegeneration death neurones. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), astrocytes undergo complex multifaceted metamorphoses ranging from atrophy with loss function reactive astrogliosis hypertrophy. Astroglial asthenia underlies reduced neuroprotection that may account for impaired transmission neuronal demise. Reactive mainly develops associated senile plaque is prominent at early moderate stages AD manifested by mild cognitive impairment; downregulation (reflecting paralysis) late characterised severe dementia. Cell-specific therapies aimed boosting supportive defensive capabilities preventing paralysis offer new directions preventing, arresting, or even curing AD-linked neurodegeneration.