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Dystrophic microglia are associated with neurodegenerative disease and not healthy aging in the human brain
Shahidehpour RK, Higdon RE, Crawford NG, Neltner JH, Ighodaro ET, Patel E, Price D, Nelson PT et al.. Neurobiology of aging, 2021-01-07
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Loss of physiological microglial function may increase the propagation of neurodegenerative diseases. Cellular senescence is a hallmark of aging; thus, we hypothesized age could be a cause of dystrophic microglia. Stereological counts were performed for total microglia, 2 microglia morphologies (hypertrophic and dystrophic) across the human lifespan.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Shahidehpour, R. K., Higdon, R. E., Crawford, N. G., Neltner, J. H., Ighodaro, E. T., Patel, E., et al. (2021). Dystrophic microglia are associated with neurodegenerative disease and not healthy aging in the human brain. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.003
Vancouver
Shahidehpour RK, Higdon RE, Crawford NG, Neltner JH, Ighodaro ET, Patel E, et al. Dystrophic microglia are associated with neurodegenerative disease and not healthy aging in the human brain. Neurobiology of aging. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.003. PMID: 33422891.
BibTeX
@article{shahidehpour2021-33422891,
author = {Shahidehpour, R. K. and Higdon, R. E. and Crawford, N. G. and Neltner, J. H. and Ighodaro, E. T. and Patel, E. and Price, D. and Nelson, P. T. and others},
title = {{Dystrophic microglia are associated with neurodegenerative disease and not healthy aging in the human brain}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.003},
pmid = {33422891},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.003}
}
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Key findings
- Cellular senescence is a hallmark of aging; thus, we hypothesized age could be a cause of dystrophic microglia.
- Stereological counts were performed for total microglia, 2 microglia morphologies (hypertrophic and dystrophic) across the human lifespan.
- An age-associated increase in the number of dystrophic microglia was found in the hippocampus and frontal cortex.
- However, the increase in dystrophic microglia was proportional to the age-related increase in the total number of microglia.
Why it matters
An age-associated increase in dystrophic microglia was found in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, but the increase was proportional to the age-related increase in total microglia. This is a human brain tissue study of microglial morphology and does not report a treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 174 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 24.9 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 75 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Adam D. Bachstetter: h-index 48 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Kentucky: institution h-index 824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33422891) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.12.003
- PubMed: 33422891
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neurobiology of Aging →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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