Microglia have emerged quite recently as members of the innate immune system that contribute to synaptic modulation, learning, emotional and memory processes. Healthy microglial cells play a key role in brain development by prunning brain connections. They modulate brain function by controlling how neurons communicate with each other, regulating cerebral blood flow and neuronal metabolism.

In neuropsychiatric disorders including autism, alzheimer's, parkinson's, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and Rett syndrome the microglial cells do not work correctly leading to the trimming of extra synapses causing brain under connectivity which is what causes the neurological symptoms

Mounting evidence indicates that microglial activation contributes to neuronal damage in
neurodegenerative diseases.

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being.[1] Depressed people feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, hurt, or restless.

Medical Research
Dynamic microglial alterations underlie stress-induced depressive-like behavior and suppressed
neurogenesis.Read More...
“The limited success in understanding the pathophysiology of major depression may result from excessive focus on the dysfunctioning of neurons, as compared with other types of brain cells known as microglia.”

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted, repetitive or stereotyped behavior. Symptoms usually appear by the age of 3. Read More...

Medical Research
Evidence of microglial activation in autism and its possible role in brain underconnectivityRead More...
“Evidence indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suffer from an ongoing neuroinflammatory process in different regions of the brain involving microglial activation. When microglia remain activated for an extended period, the production of mediators is sustained longer than usual and this increase in mediators contributes to loss of synaptic connections and neuronal cell death. Microglial activation can then result in a loss of connections or underconnectivity.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear after age 60 Read More...

Medical Research
The Biphasic Role of Microglia in Alzheimer's DiseaseRead More...
“Neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia, macrophage-like resident immune cells in the brain, play critical roles in the inflammatory aspects of AD.”

Bipolar disorderis a mental illness characterized by episodes of an elevated or agitated mood known as mania that often alternates with episodes of depression. Read More...

Medical Research
Is bipolar disorder an inflammatory condition? The relevance of microglial activation.Read More...
“The presence of active microglia and increased proinflammatory cytokines in bipolar disorder suggests an important role of inflammatory components in the pathophysiology of the disease, as well as a possible link between neuroinflammation and peripheral toxicity.”

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that leads to impairment of motor skills and speech, as well as other functions. Read More...

Medical Research
Microglial Activation In Parkinson’s Disease Read More...
“Significant evidence has now been accumulated that microglial cells play a central role in the degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in animal models of Parkinson’s disease.”

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a breakdown in thinking and poor emotional responses.Common symptoms include delusions, such as paranoia; hearing voices or noises that are not there; disorganized thinking; a lack of emotion and a lack of motivation Read More...

Medical Research
Microglia activation in recent-onset schizophrenia Read More...
“Activated microglia are present in schizophrenia patients within the first 5 years of disease onset. This suggests that, in this period, neuronal injury is present and that neuronal damage may be involved in the loss of gray matter associated with this disease. Microglia may form a novel target for neuroprotective therapies in schizophrenia.”