Bøgh et al. report that mice and pigs with compromised expression of SORL1, an Alzheimer’s disease causal gene encoding an endosomal sorting receptor, show decreased cerebral metabolism and sodium contents using hyperpolarized carbon and sodium MRI, providing insight into the metabolic consequences of Alzheimer’s disease–linked genotypes. The gene discussed is SORL1; the disease is early-onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease.