When an allele increases disease risk but does not directly cause a disease, it is called a genetic risk factor. The protein Apolipoprotein E-4 is considered to be a genetic risk factor. Everyone inherits a copy of some form of APOE from each parent. Those who inherit APOE-e4 from one parent have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. Those who inherit APOE-e4 from both parents have an even higher risk, but it’s not a certainty that they will develop the disease. It is important to point out that’s the reason why APOE- 4 is considered a genetic risk-factor. APOE-4 is a genetic risk factor so it increases a person's risk of developing the disease but it does not mean that a person will definitely develop Alzheimer's. It is estimated that APOE-4
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It has been found to transport cholesterol and cholesterol-like molecules along with beta-amyloid in and out of cells. When talking about Alzheimer’s the transporting of beta-amyloid in and out of cells of the brain is very important. Depending on which allele of APOE is transporting the beta-amyloid out of the brain determines the efficiency in which it does it. APOE-2 is better at clearing beta-amyloid out of the brain than the ApoE4 is and APOE-3 is better than APOE-4 but not as good as APOE-2. The differences in beta-amyloid transport efficiency represent what is called “loss-of-function” toxicity. This is where due to APOE-4 not being very efficient at transporting beta-amyloid out, it’s build up can cause a loss in function of things like synaptic function, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, and mitochondrial function. Now it is also believed that ApoE4 proteins have a kind of reciprocal effect called toxic “gain-of-function” activities. This is important when talking about Alzheimer’s because it is believed that the presence of APOE-4 increases the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. As stated above the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain may lead to the death of neurons, which can lead to the deterioration in a person’s cognitive abilities, along with other factors can lead to the influence of late-onset Alzheimer's. However the exact role of the protein apolipoprotein E-4 had in the development of Alzheimer's is still unclear. ("What APOE Means for Your
It has been found to transport cholesterol and cholesterol-like molecules along with beta-amyloid in and out of cells. When talking about Alzheimer’s the transporting of beta-amyloid in and out of cells of the brain is very important. Depending on which allele of APOE is transporting the beta-amyloid out of the brain determines the efficiency in which it does it. APOE-2 is better at clearing beta-amyloid out of the brain than the ApoE4 is and APOE-3 is better than APOE-4 but not as good as APOE-2. The differences in beta-amyloid transport efficiency represent what is called “loss-of-function” toxicity. This is where due to APOE-4 not being very efficient at transporting beta-amyloid out, it’s build up can cause a loss in function of things like synaptic function, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, and mitochondrial function. Now it is also believed that ApoE4 proteins have a kind of reciprocal effect called toxic “gain-of-function” activities. This is important when talking about Alzheimer’s because it is believed that the presence of APOE-4 increases the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. As stated above the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain may lead to the death of neurons, which can lead to the deterioration in a person’s cognitive abilities, along with other factors can lead to the influence of late-onset Alzheimer's. However the exact role of the protein apolipoprotein E-4 had in the development of Alzheimer's is still unclear. ("What APOE Means for Your