When thinking about the cells that are involved in neurodegenerative diseases, it is easy to zero in on neurons – the fundamental units of the brain that receive and transmit sensory information. But there is strong evidence to indicate that other cells are also involved in the development and progression of dementia. Among them are macroglia cells; the focus of the UK DRI’s newest research theme.
Macroglia is a collective term that refers to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, both of which have different supportive functions – helping neurons stay healthy, and the brain operate optimally.
Dr Blanca Diaz-Castro (UK DRI at Edinburgh) co-leads the macroglia theme alongside Prof Siddharthan Chandran. She has been researching astrocytes for over a decade, since finishing her PhD.
“During my PhD I mainly studied neurons. In the early 2000s, very few labs investigated glial cells. Neuroscience was very neuron centric. One day, a visiting Professor gave a talk about his lab’s research on astrocyte functions. I was fascinated by these cells; it was love at first sight! I learned that astrocytes populate the whole nervous system, yet we did not know much about what they were doing. It was such a big unknown; I felt very drawn to contributing to solve this mystery.”
