A new study suggests that the leading genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), is linked to blood-brain barrier breakdown and subsequent cognitive decline. These findings broaden our understanding of how cerebrovascular mechanisms contribute to cognitive impairment and should stimulate new directions for pursuing therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; apolipoprotein E4; blood–brain barrier; dementia; pericyte degeneration.