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Microglia, Trem2, and Neurodegeneration
Shi Q, Gutierrez RA, Bhat MA.. The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry, 2024-05-20
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Microglia are a specialized type of neuroimmune cells that undergo morphological and molecular changes through multiple signaling pathways in response to pathological protein aggregates, neuronal death, tissue injury, or infections. Microglia express Trem2, which serves as a receptor for a multitude of ligands enhancing their phagocytic activity. Trem2 has emerged as a critical modulator of microglial activity, especially in many neurodegenerative disorders.
Key findings
- Microglia express Trem2, which serves as a receptor for a multitude of ligands enhancing their phagocytic activity.
- Trem2 has emerged as a critical modulator of microglial activity, especially in many neurodegenerative disorders.
- Human TREM2 mutations are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- Trem2 plays dual roles in neuroinflammation and more specifically in disease-associated microglia.
Why it matters
This review states that human TREM2 mutations are associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease and that Trem2 plays dual roles in neuroinflammation and in disease-associated microglia. It reports no treatment tested in patients.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
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 (The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Neuroscientist: journal h-index 175 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 | 4 / 7 | Cited 67 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 22.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 67 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Manzoor A. Bhat: h-index 38 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center: institution h-index 883 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38769824) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/10738584241254118
- PubMed: 38769824
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Neuroscientist →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Shi, Q., Gutierrez, R. A., & Bhat, M. A. (2025). Microglia, Trem2, and Neurodegeneration. The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1177/10738584241254118
Vancouver
Shi Q, Gutierrez RA, Bhat MA. Microglia, Trem2, and Neurodegeneration. The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry. 2025. doi:10.1177/10738584241254118. PMID: 38769824.
BibTeX
@article{shi2025-38769824,
author = {Shi, Q. and Gutierrez, R. A. and Bhat, M. A.},
title = {{Microglia, Trem2, and Neurodegeneration}},
journal = {The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/10738584241254118},
pmid = {38769824},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/10738584241254118}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 82.