New research from Purdue University reveals amyloid β plaques trigger lipid droplet accumulation in microglia, impairing their ability to clear plaques and promoting sustained inflammation in Alzheimer's disease. The study showed this lipid dysregulation is age- and sex-specific, particularly increasing in female AD mice. Findings published in Immunity provide molecular insight into microglial dysfunction mechanisms and point to lipid metabolism as a potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer's. These advances deepen understanding of neuroinflammatory contributions to neurodegeneration.