Figure 1

Immune-related genes undergo more extensive response in the course of cognitively normal aging (age 20 to 99) than in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). (A) In aging, comparing gene expression levels in young (20 to 59 yrs) versus aged (60 to 99 yrs) individuals revealed that numerous immune-related gene changes occur in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), post-central gyrus (PCG) and hippocampus (HC), with fewer genes showing significant change in the entorhinal cortex (EC) with age. The majority of gene responses were increased expression with age, in all brain regions assessed. (B) Relative to aging, fewer immune genes showed significant change in AD versus age-matched controls, with gene responses primarily restricted to the HC and SFG. Negligible immune gene expression change was observed in the EC and PCG in AD. (C) A subset of immune-related genes underwent progressive change across aging and AD, particularly in the HC and SFG, predominantly undergoing increased expression across aging and AD. Few immune genes underwent progressive change across aging and AD in the EC and PCG.