The study centres on so-called microglial cells. They are regarded as the brain's immune defence and have been studied for years as a possible key to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The researchers have now succeeded for the first time in analysing these cells in the human Alzheimer's brain with unprecedented precision. This was made possible by a newly developed microscopy technology that was specially adapted for analysing human brain tissue. Using this technology, the scientists were not only able to identify individual cells by their proteins, but also visualise their spatial arrangement and their relationship to surrounding structures. The result was surprising. The researchers discovered a previously unknown cell population that is closely linked to the protein deposits typical of Alzheimer's disease and is significantly more common in diseased brain tissue. At the same time, it was shown that microglial cells adopt different, specialised states and apparently act in a far more complex way than previously assumed. The findings provide new insights into the biological processes behind a disease that affects millions of people worldwide. In the long term, they could help to identify new targets for therapies and develop more targeted treatments. For the Leipzig research group, the work is also the start of further projects. In future, the newly developed method will also be used for other neurological diseases and open up new perspectives on previously hidden mechanisms of the human brain.
Press release from "Universitätsklinikum Leipzig" dated 20 May 2026