Mitochondria serve as indispensable components of neuron-glia crosstalk in the trajectory of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multiplex and progressive neurodegenerative disorder commonly recognized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and dysfunction in the cholinergic and glutamatergic systems. At the early stages of AD, mitochondrion operates as a neuroprotective organelle in both neuronal and glial cells by compensating energy fluctuations. As the disease progresses, mitochondrial function in both neurons and glial cells deteriorates, culminating in impaired cellular metabolism and glial hyperactivation. This time-dependent hyperactivation of microglia and astrocytes sequentially promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, elevates reactive oxygen species, disrupts calcium homeostasis, and increases oxidative stress. Altogether, these processes drive neuroinflammation, which both influences and is influenced by mitochondrial activity. Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction across the disease trajectory hampers communication between neurons and glial cells, promoting excitotoxicity in neurons. This review emphasizes the vital role of mitochondrial dynamics in AD pathophysiology across different stages and explores how cell-specific targeting of mitochondrial activity could mitigate neuroinflammation, restore neuronal function, and offer potential treatment benefits. Enhancing mitochondrial function in healthy neurons and glial cells, particularly in microglia as a compensatory mechanism, especially at the early stage of the disease or restoring mitochondrial function of surviving neurons at the later stages, may promote neuroprotection and improve neuron-glia interactions, thus offering a potential strategy for AD treatment.