Reducing CETP activity prevents memory decline in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown that lower activity of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) correlates with reduced Alzheimer′s disease (AD) risk. While small molecule CETP inhibitors like evacetrapib have previously been assessed for cardiovascular diseases, their involvement in AD has not been investigated. Here, we establish CETP as a novel pharmacological target for AD treatment. Using CETP transgenic mice crossed to a mouse model of amyloidosis and administering evacetrapib, we provide evidence that CETP inhibition maintained memory independent of classic AD markers, increased hippocampal cholesterol, altered plasma lipoproteins, and changed transcription of genes linked to brain barriers. Using proteomic data of cerebrospinal fluid from cognitively unimpaired individuals at risk for AD (the PREVENT-AD cohort), we confirm that our mouse model reflects physiological changes in pre-symptomatic human subjects. We propose the repurposing of CETP inhibitors as an effective therapeutic strategy to delay or prevent cognitive impairment in AD.