Abstract

Microglial cells are the main resident immune cells of the brain and play crucial roles in the regulation of normal and pathological neural functions. Our lab aims at studying the balance of the numbers of microglia from development to ageing, to better understand the roles of these cells in brain function and dysfunction, through a multidisciplinary approach using in vivo models, genetic molecular tools and behavioural analysis. We aim to define how microglial cells control their numbers and phenotype during not only healthy ageing, but also disease. Here we will discuss the rationale for studying and targeting neuroinflammation in Dementia, and illustrate identification and validation of key therapeutic targets. We will discuss data derived from a multidisciplinary approach combining the study of laboratory models of chronic neurodegeneration, including prion disease, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and ALS , with the study of post-mortem samples from patients. This will be connected with the study of microglial dynamics across the healthy life course, highlighting key species-specific differences as well as identifying the long term consequences of the dysregulation of the dynamics of this population.