The Role of Microglia in Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Microglia significantly change their morphological and functional features during aging as well as during the course of neurodegenerative diseases, thereby contributing to the onset and progression of several CNS pathologies. However, whether microglia reactivity has beneficial or detrimental effects and consequences seems to depend on the particular disease. Moreover, the crosstalk with peripheral immune cells and the gut–brain axis involved in the regulation of age-dependent and disease-specific microglia reactions are only partially understood. We aim to elucidate different microglia reaction states found in distinct CNS pathologies and their contribution to disease outcomes.

Major questions include how microglia functions are regulated during aging and neurodegenerative processes and which endogenous and exogenous factors might bear therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the understanding of how the gut–brain axis and metabolic changes regulate the reactivity of microglia in CNS diseases will be a major purpose of this Special Issue.

Submissions of original research and review manuscripts focusing on microglia activation and the role of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and spinal cord are welcome. We hope to comprehensively summarize and elucidate the different microglia activation states related to neurodegeneration and hope to increase the overall understanding of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases.

Prof. Dr. Björn Spittau
Guest Editor

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