Scientists Find Brain Genome Shift at 50-75, Replacing Immune Cells and Raising Alzheimer’s Risk
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Sep 15
Scientists Find Brain Genome Shift at 50-75, Replacing Immune Cells and Raising Alzheimer’s Risk
1 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Sep 15
Summary
Ages 50 to 75 marked the sharpest brain-aging transition in the study, with original microglia declining and being replaced by more inflammatory microglia-like cells.
Single-cell analysis of the human hippocampus linked that shift to weakening blood-brain barrier support cells and a broad erosion of the genome’s 3D organization that helps control gene activity.
Researchers said the findings challenge the view that embryonic microglia persist for life and suggest aging is a coordinated remodeling of immune, vascular and neuronal systems rather than a steady decline.
The Science paper is one of six from the NIH-backed 4D Nucleome program, a 2015-2025 effort to map how genome architecture changes over time and may drive neurodegenerative disease.