
Aged white matter harbors a reversible senescent DAM microglia state linked to GAL3 signaling
In naturally aged mice, hippocampal-adjacent white matter accumulates a microglial population that co-expresses senescence and disease-associated microglia (DAM) markers, notably GAL3/Lgals3, defining a white matter–exclusive SenBrain-DAM state enriched in fimbria. Spatial profiling across IMC, GeoMx DSP and CosMx SMI reveals multiple age-related trajectories from homeostatic microglia to DAM and senescent states, with GAL3+ cells marking a prominent age-excluded subset. Systemic senotherapeutics targeting p16 (AP20187) or BCL2 (venetoclax) reduce GAL3+ DAM markers, lower p16, and restore microglial organization and morphology toward a youthful pattern in aged fimbria, including reduced APOE+ GAL3+ cell density and altered microglia–fiber tract alignment. These findings suggest a partially reversible senescence–DAM microglial phenotype in aging white matter and highlight GAL3/Lgals3 as a potential biomarker and target to mitigate white matter–related cognitive decline.












