Beth Stevens, a Harvard neuroscientist, has significantly impacted Alzheimer's disease research by exploring microglial cells, the brain's immune system. Her lab's findings show that improper pruning by these cells may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's. This research not only aids in developing new medications but also in identifying biomarkers for early disease detection, crucial as the incidence of Alzheimer's is expected to rise sharply. Stevens emphasizes the importance of foundational science in her work, which has been supported by federal funding.
When she was starting out, in the early 2000s, Stevens, now an associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, had no idea where her curiosity would take her.
It was this interesting new area where the brain's immune system was helping to sculpt synapses and circuits under normal development.
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