How is Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) related to Alzheimers disease?
ApoE is a protein which, in the blood, helps carry cholesterol and fat. The three common forms of the gene for this protein are ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. In early 1993, ApoE4 was identified as a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The ApoE4 gene may play a role in one third of the cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, this major finding will not immediately affect diagnosis or treatment of AD. The real hope is that within the next ten years, scientists may be able to block the action of the gene, improve treatments or even prevent disease in those individuals with the gene.
