Astrocytes unleash brain cleanup to clear Alzheimer's plaques in mice

A Baylor College of Medicine study shows boosting Sox9 in aging astrocytes increases MEGF10-mediated phagocytosis, leading to clear amyloid plaques and preserved cognition in Alzheimer's-model mice for six months; when Sox9 is knocked down, plaques accumulate faster and memory worsens, suggesting astrocyte-driven clearance as a potential therapy—yet human applicability remains unproven.