APOE4 Accelerates Menopause-Associated Brain Metabolic Shift and Disrupts Bioenergetic Adaptation

Introduction Disruption of brain glucose and lipid metabolism contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and often emerges before clinical symptoms. Women are at elevated AD risk due to menopause-associated estrogen decline, which impairs mitochondrial function and glucose metabolism. Women’s risk of AD is further elevated by the APOE4 allele, the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset AD. Methods To investigate the impact of APOE genotype on the menopausal metabolic transition, brain metabolomic and lipidomic profiling was conducted in humanized female APOE3/3, APOE3/4, and APOE4/4 mice across chronological and endocrinological stages of peri- to postmenopausal transition. Results APOE3/3 mice exhibited dynamic regulation of brain metabolic systems that supported postmenopausal bioenergetic demand. In contrast, APOE3/4 and APOE4/4 mice displayed accelerated and altered metabolic shifts, resulting in postmenopausal amino acid depletion, reduced tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, lipid accumulation, and alterations in brain lipid composition. A single APOE4 allele was sufficient to impair metabolic adaptation, while APOE4 homozygosity resulted in greater severity of deficits. Discussion Outcomes of these analyses revealed that APOE4 accelerated menopause-related metabolic decline and compromised bioenergetic adaptation, providing a mechanistic basis for increased AD susceptibility and earlier onset in APOE4-positive women.