West Lafayette, Indiana, USA: A team of researchers led by Purdue University has discovered that fat buildup in the brain’s immune cells, called microglia, may reduce their ability to combat Alzheimer’s disease. The study, conducted by Indian-origin Professor Gaurav Chopra along with graduate students Palak Manchanda and Priya Prakash, highlights how these cells accumulate fat when located near amyloid beta plaques—the protein deposits associated with Alzheimer’s.

Published in Immunity on September 9, the research shows that microglia overloaded with fat are less effective in removing harmful proteins and supporting overall brain health. These findings provide new insight into why the immune response in Alzheimer’s patients may become impaired, opening avenues for potential therapeutic approaches.