Cover image

Single-cell analysis reveals that microglia in both the brain and retina, which originate from the yolk sac, share molecular profile and genetic signatures linked to neurodegenerative diseases. The schematic butterfly symbolizes this crosstalk: the central body represents yolk sac-derived precursors; the left amber wing depicts brain microglia and amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD), while the right turquoise wing illustrates retinal microglia and drusen deposits in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), highlighting shared developmental origins yet distinct pathological outcomes. Together, these findings enhance our understanding of microglia's role in AMD and AD, offering a framework to explore shared mechanisms and cross-implications between these two neurodegenerative diseases. (Cover concept by Rinki Ratnapriya. Figure was generated with ChatGPT and refined in Adobe Illustrator to enhance clarity and disease representation. [For details, see Ma and Ratnapriya, pp. 2143–2157.])