A recent study published in Ageing Research Reviews by MA Yinzhong's team at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) highlights the critical, yet often overlooked, roles of glial cells, specifically microglia and astrocytes, in the progression of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. While neurons have traditionally been the primary focus, this research reveals how glial cells, essential for maintaining central nervous system homeostasis under normal conditions, undergo significant functional changes during disease states. These changes include metabolic reprogramming, such as microglia shifting to glycolysis and astrocytes exhibiting disrupted lipid metabolism, which amplifies inflammation and impairs neuronal support. The study also details pathological feedback loops between activated microglia and astrocytes, creating chronic neuroinflammation that extends to the neurovascular unit, offering new therapeutic targets for restoring brain health.