Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The aging brain experiences profound immunological and vascular changes that increase its vulnerability to both neurodegenerative pathologies and neoplastic processes. One of the most distinctive features of this deterioration is the phenomenon known as inflammaging, a state of chronic low-level inflammation that contributes to synaptic loss, sustained glial activation and immune system dysfunction 1 . A central axis in these processes is the progressive disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a key event that allows the entry of peripheral immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS). Once inside, these cells can adopt maladaptive phenotypes that directly impact the onset and progression of multiple diseases. This phenomenon particularly affects the brain’s resident myeloid cells, which perform fundamental homeostatic functions. When their balance is disrupted, a generalized disorder characterized by an imbalance between proinflammatory and immunosuppressive mechanisms is generated.
Source: npj Aging
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,690
Funder: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
OpenAlex ID: W7135175677