Table 2 Decomposition of the total, direct, and indirect effects through neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular lesions of the association between Apolipoprotein E gene ε4 allele (APOE-ε4) and cognitive abilities (n = 648)

Neurodegenerative mediators

  Neurofibrillary tangles (n = 648)

2.21(1.20; 3.29)

 < 0.001

1.33(0.42; 2.38)

0.002

0.88(0.45; 1.38)

 < 0.001

0.40(0.21; 0.70)

 < 0.001

  Neuritic plaques (n = 648)

2.21(1.10; 3.24)

 < 0.001

0.85( − 0.26; 1.94)

0.13

1.36(0.86; 1.96)

 < 0.001

0.62(0.35; 1.22)

 < 0.001

  TDP-43 (n = 310)

1.35( − 0.04; 2.82)

0.06

1.25( − 0.13; 2.63)

0.07

0.10( − 0.16; 0.52)

0.50

0.07( − 0.35; 0.54)

0.52

  Lewy bodies disease (n = 617)

2.04(0.97; 3.11)

 < 0.001

2.03(1.00; 3.08)

 < 0.001

0.01( − 0.12; 0.17)

0.92

0.003( − 0.07; 0.08)

0.92

Cerebrovascular mediators

  Lacunar infarcts (n = 648)

2.21(1.18; 3.31)

 < 0.001

2.12(1.11; 3.23)

 < 0.001

0.09( − 0.05; 0.26)

0.21

0.04( − 0.03; 0.13)

0.21

  Hyaline arteriosclerosis (n = 648)

2.21(1.13; 3.24)

 < 0.001

2.28(1.23; 3.33)

 < 0.001

 − 0.07( − 0.22; 0.05)

0.25

 − 0.03( − 0.12; 0.02)

0.25

  Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (n = 648)

2.21(1.13; 3.29)

 < 0.001

2.08(0.93; 3.22)

 < 0.001

0.12( − 0.07; 0.35)

0.20

0.06( − 0.03; 0.20)

0.20