Abstract
Given the growing evidence linking microglia to the onset and progression of various neurodegenerative diseases, these brain-resident macrophages have emerged as a promising cell type for targeted therapeutic interventions. This review highlights recent studies that utilized innovative, microglia-focused strategies for the treatment of diverse neurodegenerative disorders including lysosomal storage disorders, granulin frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Cutting-edge therapeutic strategies range from replacing faulty microglia with peripheral macrophage precursors or induced human pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia to engineering microglia that target toxic aggregates or deliver remediating payloads. We also examine the potential limitations as well as the clinical benefits of these strategies.