Together, the above data indicate that both CD68+ microglia/macrophages and reactive astrocytes are engulfing more synapses in old mice in the peri-atrophic region and hippocampus ipsilateral to stroke injury than in young mice at the chronic stage of ischemic stroke, which may contribute to the long-lasting post-stroke memory dysfunction in old mice. The gene discussed is CD68; the disease is ischemic stroke.