Apolipoprotein E4: A Risk Factor for Successful Cognitive Aging

Apolipoprotein E is a plasma protein that has an important role in transport and metabolism of lipids in serum as well as central nervous system. Among the 3 common alleles, the ε2 allele has the most stable structure followed by ε3 and ε4 in order. There is evidence for a deleterious role of ε4 allele by atherosclerosis and amyloid beta accumulation in brain and body. The presence and gene dose of ε4 allele are risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E ε4 may have a role in the pathology of amyloid beta and tau and it has a strong relationship with the early onset of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. However, early-onset Alzheimer's disease has a weaker relationship with ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E.