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Emerging Microglia Biology Defines Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Alzheimer's Disease
Lewcock JW, Schlepckow K, Di Paolo G, Tahirovic S, Monroe KM, Haass C.. Neuron, 2020-10-22
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently untreatable, and therapeutic strategies aimed to slow cognitive decline have not yet been successful. Many of these approaches have targeted the amyloid cascade, indicating that novel treatment strategies are required. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified a number of risk factors in genes expressed in microglia, underscoring their therapeutic potential in neurodegeneration.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Lewcock, J. W., Schlepckow, K., Di Paolo, G., Tahirovic, S., Monroe, K. M., & Haass, C. (2020). Emerging Microglia Biology Defines Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Alzheimer's Disease. Neuron. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.029
Vancouver
Lewcock JW, Schlepckow K, Di Paolo G, Tahirovic S, Monroe KM, Haass C. Emerging Microglia Biology Defines Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Alzheimer's Disease. Neuron. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.029. PMID: 33096024.
BibTeX
@article{lewcock2020-33096024,
author = {Lewcock, J. W. and Schlepckow, K. and Di Paolo, G. and Tahirovic, S. and Monroe, K. M. and Haass, C.},
title = {{Emerging Microglia Biology Defines Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Alzheimer's Disease}},
journal = {Neuron},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.029},
pmid = {33096024},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.029}
}
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Key findings
- Many of these approaches have targeted the amyloid cascade, indicating that novel treatment strategies are required.
- Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified a number of risk factors in genes expressed in microglia, underscoring their therapeutic potential in neurodegeneration.
- In this review, we discuss how the recently defined functions of these AD risk genes can be targeted therapeutically to modulate microglial cell state and slow the progression of AD.
- Antibody-mediated stimulation of the triggering receptor of myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is on the forefront of these candidate therapeutic approaches based on a combination of compelling human genetics and emerging preclinical data.
Why it matters
This review argues that because genome-wide association studies have identified Alzheimer's disease risk factors in genes expressed in microglia, these microglial functions could be targeted therapeutically to modulate microglial cell state and slow disease progression. It describes potential approaches rather than reporting a proven treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
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 (Neuron) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neuron: journal h-index 689 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 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 217 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 27.1 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 19 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 88 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Christian Haass: h-index 139 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München: institution h-index 1,224 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33096024) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
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