APOE4 impairs Nrf2-PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitochondrial clearance through disrupted antioxidant and mitophagy signaling

APOE4, the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), is closely associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, yet the mechanisms remain poorly defined. We identify a previously unrecognized failure of the Nrf2-PINK1/Parkin axis in APOE4 neurons that compromises mitochondrial quality control. Unlike APOE3, APOE4 neurons fail to activate PINK1/Parkin-dependent Mitophagy under stress, a defect compounded by impaired Nrf2 signaling and weakened antioxidant defenses. In vivo, APOE4 mice show age-dependent collapse of this pathway, correlating with progressive mitochondrial dysfunction and disrupted mito-nuclear communication. Pharmacological activation of Nrf2 or PINK1 restores mitochondrial clearance, highlighting the axis as a druggable node. These findings provide a mechanistic link between APOE4 and mitochondrial failure, establishing the Nrf2-PINK1/Parkin pathway as a critical driver of neurodegeneration and a promising target for therapeutic intervention in AD.