The Effects of Peripheral APOE2 on Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology and Pathways

Project Summary

Despite encouraging news on anti-amyloid drugs, researchers are still far from developing safe and effective therapies to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease. The APOE gene is a strong risk factor, with APOE4 increasing and APOE2 reducing risk. This project will study the protective effect of APOE2 using new model systems and advanced technologies. These studies will address how APOE2 in the blood affects brain cognition and Alzheimer’s disease pathology.  

Outcomes from these studies should provide new knowledge on how different forms of APOE affect Alzheimer’s disease and how APOE expressed in the periphery affects brain function and neuropathology. More importantly, the study outcomes will guide us to design APOE-targeted therapies to delay the onset or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.