Microglial activation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with various studies highlighting the multifaceted nature of this process. One study demonstrated that C9orf72 deficiency leads to a transition of microglia from a homeostatic to an inflammatory state, characterized by an enhanced type I interferon signature, which correlates with increased amyloid accumulation and synaptic loss (ref: Lall doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.05.020/). Another study found that activated microglia can mitigate the seeding and spreading of tau aggregates associated with amyloid plaques, suggesting a protective role under certain conditions (ref: Gratuze doi.org/10.1084/jem.20210542/). However, the depletion of microglia in established amyloid models resulted in increased neuronal loss, indicating that microglial function is complex and context-dependent (ref: Gratuze doi.org/10.1084/jem.20210542/). Furthermore, replicative senescence in microglia was shown to contribute to Aβ pathology, with sustained microglial proliferation leading to a distinct transcriptional profile and correlating with the emergence of disease-associated microglia in human AD cases (ref: Hu doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109228/). This suggests that the aging process and microglial dynamics are integral to the progression of AD, highlighting the need for further exploration of microglial roles in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to these findings, the role of microglia in the context of cerebrovascular integrity and amyloid pathology was explored through the administration of hrANXA1, which restored blood-brain barrier function and reduced amyloid levels in transgenic mouse models (ref: Ries doi.org/10.1093/brain/). The interplay between microglial activation and systemic factors was also examined in the context of COVID-19, where hyperactivation of microglia was associated with AD pathology, suggesting that systemic inflammation can exacerbate neurodegenerative processes (ref: Poloni doi.org/10.1111/bpa.12997/). Overall, these studies underscore the dual role of microglia in AD, acting both as protectors and potential contributors to pathology, depending on the context of their activation and the surrounding microenvironment.