Overview
- A study published in npj Dementia pooled four large datasets totaling more than 450,000 participants to model population-level effects of APOE variants.
- Researchers estimate that 72% to 93% of Alzheimer’s cases and about 45% of all dementia cases would not occur without the combined influence of APOE ε3 and ε4.
- The analysis reframes the common ε3 allele from largely neutral to a substantial contributor to Alzheimer’s risk alongside the established ε4 risk variant.
- Scientists highlight APOE as a high‑priority target for prevention and drug development, noting few current trials directly address this pathway.
- Experts caution that APOE status is not determinative, other risk factors interact with genetics, and APOE genotyping is not routinely offered by the NHS.