A new study published in Acta Neuropathologica has identified prematurely senescent microglia in the vicinity of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD). These dysfunctional cells are thought to be a consequence of Aβ pathology and could represent a target for senolytic drugs, which induce apoptosis of senescent cells.

“Previous research has suggested that AD can induce cell senescence, but the affected range of cell types and relationships with specific stressors were not understood,” explains lead author Nurun Fancy. “We sought to comprehensively describe the affected cells and identify the specific factors that are responsible for inducing senescence.”