Washington DC, Nov. 9 -- Researchers have identified special immune cells in the brain that help slow Alzheimer's disease. These microglia work to reduce inflammation and block the spread of harmful proteins. They appear to protect memory and brain health, offering a promising new direction for therapy.

In a study published November 5 in Nature, the team found that microglia with lower levels of a transcription factor called PU.1 and higher expression of a receptor known as CD28 help reduce brain inflammation.

These specialised microglia also slow the buildup of amyloid plaques and the spread of toxic tau proteins, which are both major hallmarks of Alzheimer's.

PU.1 is a protein that binds to specific DNA regions, helping control which...