# Scientists Find a Hidden Tipping Point That Decides Who Gets Alzheimer's Dementia *2026-07-28 02:01 UTC · Science · 1 min read* > Researchers identified a shift in brain immune cells that may separate people who develop dementia from those who stay cognitively sharp despite Alzheimer's pathology. Researchers at VIB-KU Leuven, the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Muna Therapeutics have identified a biological tipping point that may explain why some people with Alzheimer's brain changes develop dementia while others stay cognitively sharp. Led by Prof. Bart De Strooper and Prof. Mark Fiers, the team studied brain tissue from older adults with varying cognitive status, including cognitively healthy centenarians. The key lies in microglia, the brain's immune cells. Early in the disease, microglia enter an inflammatory state tied to amyloid plaques. As the disease advances, some microglia switch to an antigen-presenting state linked to the emergence of tau tangles and neurodegeneration — a shift the researchers believe may be the crucial turning point toward dementia. Notably, octogenarians with amyloid plaques but no dementia showed only the earlier microglial response, while healthy centenarians activated a separate, later-stage program largely independent of tau buildup. The findings, published in Nature Medicine on July 26, suggest future treatments could target microglial states directly rather than focusing solely on clearing amyloid plaques, potentially opening a new path to preserving resilience against dementia. ## Sources - [sciencedaily.com](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015257.htm) - [erc.europa.eu](https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/researchers-identify-key-biological-tipping-point-alzheimers-disease) --- TechTools News · https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/2085-scientists-find-a-hidden-tipping-point-that-decides-who-gets-alzheimer-s Česká verze: https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/2158-vedci-odhalili-skryty-zlomovy-bod-ktery-rozhoduje-o-vzniku-alzheimerovy-demence