Brain HealthNeuroinflammation Emerges as Central Driver of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease
Neuroinflammation — the chronic activation of the brain's immune cells — is now understood as a core driver of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, not merely a side effect. When misfolded proteins like amyloid-beta, tau, and alpha-synuclein accumulate, they trigger microglia and astrocytes into a sustained inflammatory state that damages synapses, kills neurons, and disrupts the blood-brain barrier. Genetic factors such as APOE4, TREM2, and LRRK2 amplify this response. New biomarkers and neuroimaging tools are improving early detection. Clinical trials targeting microglial behavior, cytokine signaling, and inflammasome pathways offer genuine hope for treatments that slow or halt neurodegeneration rather than merely managing symptoms.
