14 Jul Plasma Apolipoprotein E Linked to Risk of Dementia

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Koch

Manja Koch, Ph.D., Research Associate
Department of Nutrition
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Dr. Jensen

Majken K. Jensen, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Nutrition
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health &
Professor in the Department of Public Health
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are highly prevalent conditions. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 50 million people are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias worldwide. Lower apolipoprotein E in plasma is a risk factor for dementia, but the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated the role of apolipoprotein E overall and in lipoproteins with distinct metabolic functions in relation to cognitive function and dementia risk..

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: We found that higher apolipoprotein E level in high-density lipoproteins that lacked apolipoprotein C3 was associated with better cognitive function and lower dementia risk. 

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? 

Response: The latter findings parallel observations from one of our previous investigations in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health study. In the latter study, we found that higher apoE in plasma HDL is associated with lower coronary heart disease risk, but only in the absence of apoC3 on HDL. Now, this data from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study extends the cardioprotective associations of this novel lipoprotein to dementia. 

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: It would be very interesting to assess if the concentration of apoE in HDL that lacks apoC3 can be modified by lifestyle or therapeutic interventions and if a change in the biomarker level corresponds to a risk reduction in dementia risk.

Any disclosures? Conflicts of interests are listed in the paper.

Citation:

Koch M, DeKosky ST, Goodman M, et al. Association of Apolipoprotein E in Lipoprotein Subspecies With Risk of Dementia. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(7):e209250. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.9250

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Last Updated on July 16, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD