APOE2 may protect the brain from Alzheimer’s and aging
A study suggests that the APOE2 gene variant helps protect brain cells from DNA damage and aging. This finding provides a potential biological explanation for why APOE2 carriers have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Understanding the protective mechanism of APOE2 could open new pathways for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
People who carry the APOE2 form of the apolipoprotein E gene tend to live longer and have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists have known about that advantage for years, but the biological reason behind it has remained unclear.
A new study from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, published in Aging Cell, suggests that APOE2 helps neurons protect their DNA and avoid senescence. Senescence is a damaged, poorly functioning cellular state that becomes more common with age and is believed to contribute to neurodegeneration.
The results point to a role for APOE that goes beyond its familiar involvement in cholesterol transport. They suggest that different versions of the gene may also influence how well brain cells preserve and repair their genetic material over time.
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