Sequencing in healthy APOE e4 samples to identify protective variants in AD

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene codes for the production of ApoE protein, a naturally occurring protein in the brain. It is thought that altered levels of this protein may play a role in the Alzheimer's disease process. There are different versions of the APOE gene, and one of those versions, known as APOE epsilon 4 (APOE-e4) is known to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Individuals who inherit one copy of APOE-e4 have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's. Those who inherit two copies have an even higher risk, but not a certainty. Even though the APOE-e4 gene is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, some people with two copies of the gene do not get the disease, or do so at a much later age than other people with two copies of the gene. These observations suggest that there may be other genetic factors that modify or reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in people with the APOE-e4 variation.