Low APOE and AD

Plasma Apolipoprotein E Linked to Dementia Risk

Susan Jeffrey

November 19, 2013

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DALLAS, Texas — Plasma levels of apolipoprotein E (APOE) are associated with the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia, independent of APOE genotype, a new study shows.

Using 2 large general population cohorts, Danish researchers found that low plasma levels of APOE were associated with significantly higher risks of AD and of all dementia, but not with cerebrovascular disease, regardless of the presence or absence of the APOE ε4 genotype that is already associated with increased AD risk.

"These things suggest that plasma levels of APOE may be a new preclinical plasma biomarker for dementia, and again, this is the first plasma biomarker for predicting future dementia," said Ruth Frikke-Schmidt, from Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark.

She speculated that low levels of plasma APOE reflect APOE activity in the brain. "So, low APOE in plasma mirrors low APOE production in the brain, which probably is not good, because less β-amyloid is cleared," she concluded.

Dr. Frikke-Schmidt reported their findings here at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2013.