Nearly seven million Americans live with Alzheimer’s Disease. New research shows a genetic combination – two APOE4 alleles, one from each parent – previously thought to raise the risk for developing the disease is actually more of a certainty after almost every person studied with this combination developed Alzheimer’s disease.
“So that indicates that it is not just a risk factor, but that it’s a strong predictor that these individuals will develop Alzheimer’s pathology,” said Dr. Eliezer Masliah, Director of the Division of Neuroscience at the National Institute on Aging.
An estimated two percent of the overall population carries both APOE4 genes. These patients account for one out of every six Alzheimer’s patients.
“If you have a strong family history, where a number of relatives have died with early onset Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Masliah, “Go talk to your doctor. I think that’s a good message.”
Doctors generally avoid prescribing Alzheimer’s patients carrying two APOE4 alleles the leading Alzheimer’s drug Lequembi because they are at particularly high risk of experiencing side effects from the medication including brain bleeding and swelling.
However, it’s not all bad news. Some people who inherited two APOE4 genes and began experiencing Alzheimer’s symptoms were able
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