Summary: For people born in the US around 1900, the genetic variant APOE ε4 was associated with longer lifespans. More recently, it has become associated with shorter lifespans and a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This may be because the environment has changed, and the burden of certain infectious diseases such as diarrhea have decreased substantially. If true, this may help us figure out how APOE ε4 contributes to the risk of AD.
A Tale of Two APOE Alleles
A Tale of Two APOE Alleles
A Tale of Two APOE Alleles
Summary: For people born in the US around 1900, the genetic variant APOE ε4 was associated with longer lifespans. More recently, it has become associated with shorter lifespans and a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This may be because the environment has changed, and the burden of certain infectious diseases such as diarrhea have decreased substantially. If true, this may help us figure out how APOE ε4 contributes to the risk of AD.