Scientists identify genes that could reduce APOE4 Alzheimer's disease risk

Scientists have pinpointed specific genes that could play a role in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease among individuals with the APOE4 variant of the apolipoprotein E gene. Led by Dr. Michael E. Belloy, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry at WashU Medicine, the international team of researchers found that targeting these genes in individuals with the APOE4 variant could lead to more personalized approaches to preventing and treating the disease.

APOE4 accounts for about half of Alzheimer's cases in older adults, but not everyone with the variant develops the disease. To determine what protects some APOE4 carriers, Belloy and colleagues analyzed the genomes of nearly 450,000 people of European, African, and Japanese ancestry. They identified 44 key genes associated with specific cell types linked to Alzheimer's development, as well as potential drug targets.

Oligodendrocytes, cells responsible for producing myelin that surrounds neurons, were particularly significant. Many APOE4-associated genes were linked to these cells, suggesting that treatments targeting oligodendrocyte-related genes in APOE4-positive individuals could help preserve myelin and protect against Alzheimer's. These findings represent progress towards a personalized treatment model for Alzheimer's, where physicians identify each individual's biological mechanisms and tailor prevention or treatment strategies accordingly.