Apolipoprotein E Affects Both Myelin Breakdown and Cognition: Implications for Age-Related Trajectories of Decline Into Dementia

A specific association between CPS and myelin breakdown in LMwm exists in asymptomatic “younger-old” individuals at increased genetic risk for AD. Although inferences of change over time and causality are limited by the cross-sectional study design, this finding lends support to the hypotheses that myelin breakdown underlies age-related slowing in CPS and that by altering the trajectory of myelin breakdown, ApoE alleles shift the age at onset of cognitive decline. Combined use of biomarkers and CPS measures might be useful in developing and targeting primary prevention treatments for AD.