Additionally, the number of human-specific astrocyte subtypes expressing the frame-shifted GFAP variant, GFAP+1, is increased with AD progression, but only few of these GFAP+1-expressing cells has been identified as associated to plaques, with processes protruding through them (Kamphuis et al., 2014, Middeldorp et al., 2009). This evidence concerns the gene GFAP and Alzheimer disease.