these aged microglia linger around and release inflammatory chemicals through a pathway known as cGAS-STING. Notably, the study found that these harmful effects were more pronounced in female mice, a finding that aligns with reports that APOE4 poses a stronger risk for women than men.

The study underscores the need to consider sex differences in Alzheimer's research and treatment. By identifying the role of immune pathways like cGAS-STING in the progression of Alzheimer's, particularly in individuals with high-risk genetic variants =>new strategies for treatment & prevention.