Alzheimer Disease and the Apo E Gene
Written by Pamela McDonald, NP
.jpg)
Cognitive decline in old age has been described throughout history. However, it was not until the early part of the 20th century that a collection of brain cell abnormalities was specifically identified by a German physician, Alois Alzheimer, for whom the dread disease was named.
Nearly a century later, a high risk for Alzheimer disease was associated with the Apo E 4 Gene. Immediately following this discovery, ethical dilemmas associated with genetic testing led to the conclusion that medical records should be kept private in order to protect the rights of patients. Guidelines for genetic testing for Alzheimer disease determined that individuals should not be tested without their primary medical providers’ support and guidance. In 1997, President Clinton proposed a law that would help make it a crime for employers or insurance companies to discriminate on the grounds of genetic testing data they obtained. While his proposal did not become law, half the states in the United States have adopted this policy.
Not all people with Apo E 4 develop Alzheimer disease, especially those who have created a gene-supportive environment. But without that, 90 percent of the 4/4 combination and 49 percent of the 4/3 and 4/2 variants develop the disease. This is a relatively exclusive Apo E club since it is estimated that only 5 percent of the population has the Apo E 4/4. The percentage of the population with the Apo E 4/3 and 4/2 genotype totals 20 percent.
Conversely, not all people with Alzheimer disease have the Apo E 4 genotype. What I do know from my clinical practice is that Apo E 4s who eat a high-fat diet have a very high cholesterol level. My patients with two copies (Apo E 4/4) consistently have total cholesterol levels in the 300s and 400s with LDL in the 200s and 300s. Extremely high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol cause high levels of inflammation in the blood vessels, including those in the brain. Therefore, a connection between Alzheimer disease and one’s diet is not surprising.
As with all chronic diseases, Alzheimer disease results from the interaction of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors over many years, causing changes in brain structure and function. While it is a complex disease with no single, clear-cut cause, for those with a 4/4 genotype, careful matching of your nutritional environment will likely postpone or prevent the development of Alzheimer disease.
In summary, of the many theories about this disease—from toxic factors like aluminum or zinc to smoking being the causative agent—having an Apo E 4 gene (or two) seems to have the strongest connection with Alzheimer disease and provides a connection between elevated cholesterol and fats, with a resulting cellular inflammatory process in the brain.
In my clinical practice I am often able to discern trends in diseases. From these examples, I hope that you can see that the Apo E gene is a powerful component of our total genetic blueprint—a major factor in our overall state of health. For this reason, I believe this gene will be the focus of much future research in the areas where it interacts with our specific environment—our diet, exercise, thought patterns, and any medications we’re taking, as well as its connection with heart disease, cancer, and many other chronic diseases, especially those involving the immune system.
In my opinion not enough attention is being paid to the nutritional connection of these diseases with the Apo E gene. With more attention paid to that connection and with the right nutritional adjustments, reducing the risk of chronic disease is possible, and the risk of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer disease in particular can be lowered.
Furthermore, I think the risk for Apo E 4 genotypes extends beyond just Alzheimer disease and heart disease. Given that my clinical experience has shown that patients with certain genotypes have certain disease clusters or associated illnesses, the development of many chronic illnesses may turn out to stem from imbalances within each Apo E genotype and how the person’s environment supports (or doesn’t) their specific genotype.
You may respond to Pam in the “Leave a Comment” section below or email her at pmcdonald@boomer-living.com and visit her website at www.apoegenediet.com.
Visit www.boomer-living.com Wellness Center for a variety of Wellness and Fitness articles for Boomers.
Tags: alzheimer, chronic diseases, genetic testing, genotype
Pamela McDonald, NP, Boomer-Living Director, is a Board Certified - Primary Care and Nurse Practitioner, and deveoted to the prevention of heart disease and chronic illness. Pam is a graduate of Andrew Weil, MD's Program of Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona. She has used her advanced specialty training in surgery, women's health, adult primary care, pediatrics, pediatric obesity, family practice, cardiovascular and heart disease prevention, nutrition, exercise sports medicine, mind-body medicine, energy medicine, and botanical medicine to develop the groundbreaking Apo E Gene Diet. Through her private practice and work in primary care, she uses this program to help patients work with their own genotypes in order to reach optimum health and prevent disease.
