Author/Editor		Rodríguez, José J.; Verkhratsky, Alexei
Title		Neuroglial roots of neurodegenerative diseases?
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 43, št. 2
Publication year		2011
Volume		str. 87-96
ISSN		0893-7648 - Molecular neurobiology
Language		eng
Abstract		Neuroglia is critically important for controlling the brain homeostasis and for mounting the brain defence against pathological insults. Here, we overview recent data about the role of neuroglia in various types of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, fronto-temporal dementia, Wernicke encephalopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia). In all these forms of neurodegeneration, astroglia undergoes complex morphological and functional changes. The early and mid-term stages of neurodegenerative processes, and specifically of Alzheimer's disease, are associated with generalised atrophy of astroglia, whereas the later stages are characterised with an astrogliosis and microglial activation linked to neuropathological lesions such as senile plaques. Atrophic changes in astroglia may contribute to the initial cognitive deficits due to reduced glial synaptic coverage and decreased neuroprotection.
Keywords		astrocytes Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration astrociti Alzheimerjeva bolezen nevrodegeneracija