CGAS and Alzheimer disease: However, this beneficial function declines upon excessive Aβ accumulation.[54] In the late stages of AD, overactivated microglia contributes to elevated proinflammatory cytokine production and have reduced Aβ clearance capacity.[55] Moreover, cell death of Aβ‐containing microglia contributes to plaque growth in AD.[56] Given the decreased plaque load and inflammatory cytokine levels observed in 5xFAD‐mKO mice, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the loss of cGAS leads to a state of moderate microglial activation, which prevents the detrimental consequences of microglial overactivation.