Abstract: Methods of treating a subject for a neurodegenerative disorder are provided. Aspects of the methods include administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of an agent that reduces the prevalence of lipid droplet accumulating microglia (LAM) to treat the subject for the neurodegenerative disorder. A variety of neurodegenerative disorders may be treated by practice of the methods. Also provided are methods of identifying lipid droplet-associated target genes, including target genes that are positive and negative regulators of lipid droplet formation, as well as methods of treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject by administering to the subject an antagonist of a positive regulator of lipid droplet formation and/or an agonist of a negative regulator of lipid droplet formation.