What is ApoE4?

ApoE(apolipoprotein) is a gene that comes with different variations called alleles; ApoE2, ApoE3 and ApoE4. Like every one of the thousands of genes that make up our DNA, we get one allele from each of our parents, so the possibilities for ApoE are: ApoE 2/2, 2/3, 2/4, 3/3, 3/4 and 4/4. 

ApoE4 has become synonymous with a greater genetic risk for Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease.  Without delving too far into the science, it is a gene variant that alters how a further 1,700 of our genes are read and many of these have to do with aging, inflammation, clearing of toxins and neuroplasticity. In other words, the processes that increase our risk for Alzheimer’s.

For example, ApoE4 carriers are less efficient at transporting cholesterol which is essential for the formation and maintenance of cell membranes, including those of neurons. It is also vital for the production of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibres. ApoE4’s impaired cholesterol transport can hinder these processes, making neurons more vulnerable to damage and less capable of repair.  This disrupted cholesterol metabolism can also lead to increased production and reduced clearance of amyloid-beta – one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.

ApoE4 carriers are also more prone to inflammation, which is a significant factor in the development of Alzheimer’s. It can influence the brain’s immune response, leading to increased neuroinflammation. It affects the function of microglia, the brain’s immune cells, causing them to become overactive and leading to chronic inflammation. This heightened inflammatory response can also exacerbate the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles as the brain goes into protective mode. . 

To carry an APoE4 allele certainly does not mean you are certain to get Alzheimer’s – despite the click bait headlines.  We are so much more than just one gene. Indeed, there are many people who carry two copies who do extremely well into old age. Other genes may down regulate your risk and as we now know, our lifestyle and the choices we make around sleep, diet, exercise, toxin exposure and stress really hold the key to determining how well we age. 

I work as an intern coach on ApoE4.info which is a fantastically informative website and global community if you want to delve a bit deeper into the topic.

Explore further: ApoE4.info

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