By Tarun Sai Lomte Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. Apr 16 2026 A sweeping review shows how the brain’s immune defenses can both fight and fuel neurodegeneration, revealing why timing, cell type, and disease context may be crucial for future therapies. Innate immune activation and microglial transition during neurodegeneration. ( A ) During neurodegeneration, distressed neurons release DAMPs such as mtDNA, ROS, HMGB1, aberrant proteins, and pTau–bound RNA. These signals activate resident