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The microglial phagocytic role with specific plaque types in the Alzheimer disease brain
D'Andrea MR, Cole GM, Ard MD.. Neurobiology of aging, 2004-05-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Alzheimer disease (AD) involves glial inflammation associated with amyloid plaques. The role of the microglial cells in the AD brain is controversial, as it remains unclear if the microglia form the amyloid fibrils of plaques or react to them in a macrophage-phagocytic role. Also, it is not known why microglia are preferentially associated with some amyloid plaque types.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
D'Andrea, M. R., Cole, G. M., & Ard, M. D. (2004). The microglial phagocytic role with specific plaque types in the Alzheimer disease brain. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2003.12.026
Vancouver
D'Andrea MR, Cole GM, Ard MD. The microglial phagocytic role with specific plaque types in the Alzheimer disease brain. Neurobiology of aging. 2004. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2003.12.026. PMID: 15172747.
BibTeX
@article{dandrea2004-15172747,
author = {D'Andrea, M. R. and Cole, G. M. and Ard, M. D.},
title = {{The microglial phagocytic role with specific plaque types in the Alzheimer disease brain}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2003.12.026},
pmid = {15172747},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2003.12.026}
}
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Key findings
- The role of the microglial cells in the AD brain is controversial, as it remains unclear if the microglia form the amyloid fibrils of plaques or react to them in a macrophage-phagocytic role.
- Also, it is not known why microglia are preferentially associated with some amyloid plaque types.
- This review will provide substantial evidence to support the phagocytic role of microglia in the brain as well as explain why microglia are generally associated with specific plaque types that may be explained through their unique mechanisms of formation.
- In summary, the data presented suggests that plaque associated microglial activation is typically subsequent to specific amyloid plaque formations in the AD brain.
Why it matters
This review presents evidence that microglia act mainly by phagocytosing amyloid plaques rather than forming them, and discusses why they associate with certain plaque types. It is a mechanistic review and does not report any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
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 | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 215 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.0 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author March D. Ard: h-index 15 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, Los Angeles: institution h-index 1,923 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15172747) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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