Study links APOE4 Alzheimer's risk to fat buildup in brain cells

MIT researchers found that the APOE4 gene variant disrupts Wnt signaling in oligodendrocytes, causing cholesterol to accumulate in brain cells. Blocking the enzyme that degrades a Wnt relay protein in mice restored myelin production and improved cognitive test results. The study was published in Cell Stem Cell.

• APOE4 raises late-onset Alzheimer's risk 3- to 12-fold
• Disrupted Wnt signaling leads to lipid droplets in oligodendrocytes
• Enzyme inhibition in mice cut fat buildup and restored myelin
• Findings have not yet been confirmed in humans