<p>by Joanna Clarke, Sarah Jäkel</p> Research into neurodegeneration is often confined to a single disease, cell type or mechanism. A new collection of articles explores neurodegeneration within its physiological context, looking beyond diseased neurons to the surrounding tissue microenvironment. Research into neurodegeneration is often confined to a single disease, cell type or mechanism. This Editorial highlights a new collection of articles that explore neurodegeneration within its physiological context, looking beyond diseased neurons to the surrounding tissue microenvironment.