Research Progress on the Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome and Microglia in Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

As a common neurological disease, cognitive impairment is characterized by cognitive decline, memory and attention impairment, which seriously affects the patients' quality of life. The etiology and pathogenesis of cognitive impairment are complex and diverse. Studies have shown that chronic persistent neuroinflammation plays a key role in its development. Microglia and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome are closely related to neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Regulation of microglia and NLRP3 inflammasome can reduce inflammatory factors, reduce amyloid β-protein(Aβ) deposition, regulate autophagy, maintain synaptic homeostasis, thus reducing neuroinflammation and further preventing and treating cognitive impairment. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of microglia and NLRP3 inflammasome as well as their interaction in cognitive impairment can provide some reference and basis for the in-depth study of the mechanism and clinical prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment, and the subsequent development of more efficient drugs.

Keywords

• microglia
• nlrp3 inflammasome
• cognitive dysfunction
• neuroinflammation
• research progress