APOE4 and Alzheimer’s risk: what the numbers actually mean
Relative risk, absolute risk, and age of onset: how to read the scary statistics about APOE4 and Alzheimer’s without losing perspective.
Updated May 22, 2026 8 min read
Deep Dives
Brain & Cognition
Alzheimer’s risk and neurodegeneration.
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How APOE4 affects the brain
APOE4 influences how the brain clears amyloid, handles lipids, and manages inflammation. A plain-language tour of the leading mechanisms and what’s still uncertain.
Updated June 2, 2026 7 min read
APOE4, women, and sex differences in risk
Evidence suggests APOE4 may carry a different risk profile for women than men, especially at certain ages. Here’s what the research shows, and its limits.
Updated June 2, 2026 6 min read
Mild cognitive impairment & early detection
Normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia are different things. How to tell them apart, what early detection offers, and when to see a doctor.
Updated June 2, 2026 6 min read
The brain-heart axis: how blood vessels shape cognitive decline
Much of what we call “Alzheimer’s” is tangled up with vascular damage. Why protecting your blood vessels is also protecting your memory.
Updated June 2, 2026 6 min read
Hearing loss: an overlooked, modifiable dementia risk factor
Hearing loss is one of the larger modifiable contributors to dementia risk, and one of the most fixable. What the evidence says, including the ACHIEVE trial.
Updated June 2, 2026 6 min read
Social connection, purpose, and cognitive reserve
Relationships and a sense of purpose aren’t soft extras for brain health. Here’s how social connection and “cognitive reserve” fit into the APOE4 picture.
Updated June 2, 2026 5 min read
Cognitive training and brain games: what actually works?
Do brain-training apps protect your memory, or just make you better at the app? A clear-eyed look at the evidence on cognitive training for carriers.
Updated June 2, 2026 6 min read