APOE Utilization Tied to Most AD Cases
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By
January 20, 2026
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3 min
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1
93% of confirmed Alzheimer's cases are linked to APOE ε3 and ε4 alleles.
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Study based on 470,000 participants aggregated from multiple data sources.
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PAF for ε3 and ε4 in clinically diagnosed AD: 76% (UK Biobank).
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4
ε2 homozygotes are uncommon, affecting PAF calculations.
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Recommendations to prioritize interventions on APOE for dementia prevention.
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6
Limitations noted in population ancestry and outcome ascertainment variability.
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7
No other genetic locus accounted for similar AD burden.
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A population-based study analyzing over 470,000 participants revealed that 93% of neuropathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease cases are linked to apolipoprotein E ε3 and ε4 alleles. This research, published in npj Dementia, aggregates data from multiple sources including UK Biobank and FinnGen. It demonstrates a clear gradient in Alzheimer's risk associated with different APOE genotypes, prompting recommendations for prioritizing interventions on APOE to improve dementia prevention strategies. Limitations include focus on European ancestry and varying outcome ascertainment methods.
-
1
93% of confirmed Alzheimer's cases are linked to APOE ε3 and ε4 alleles.
-
2
Study based on 470,000 participants aggregated from multiple data sources.
-
3
PAF for ε3 and ε4 in clinically diagnosed AD: 76% (UK Biobank).
-
4
ε2 homozygotes are uncommon, affecting PAF calculations.
-
5
Recommendations to prioritize interventions on APOE for dementia prevention.
-
6
Limitations noted in population ancestry and outcome ascertainment variability.
-
7
No other genetic locus accounted for similar AD burden.
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