GJA1 and neurodegenerative disease: Dysregulation of Cx43 has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases by altering astrocytic functions, including changes in GJ communication and HC activity, which influence neuroinflammation, neuronal survival, and neurovascular unit integrity (Freitas‐Andrade and Naus 2016; Sánchez et al. 2020).