Question:medium
Which apolipoprotein is responsible for Alzheimer's disease?
Which apolipoprotein is responsible for Alzheimer's disease?
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Think of the e4 allele - the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- APOE4
- APOE3
- APOE2
- APOE1
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Apolipoprotein E is coded by a gene that exists in different isoform-producing variants. Among these, the form written as APOE4 carries the strongest disease link.
Step 2: APOE4 carriers handle brain amyloid-beta poorly. Impaired clearance and enhanced deposition of $A\beta$ plaques accelerate neurodegeneration, which is why this allele dominates the genetic risk profile for Alzheimer's.
Step 3: The other variants behave very differently. APOE2 lowers risk, APOE3 is risk-neutral, and an APOE1 form is not the recognised major contributor. Hence the apolipoprotein responsible is APOE4.\[\boxed{APOE4}\]
Step 2: APOE4 carriers handle brain amyloid-beta poorly. Impaired clearance and enhanced deposition of $A\beta$ plaques accelerate neurodegeneration, which is why this allele dominates the genetic risk profile for Alzheimer's.
Step 3: The other variants behave very differently. APOE2 lowers risk, APOE3 is risk-neutral, and an APOE1 form is not the recognised major contributor. Hence the apolipoprotein responsible is APOE4.\[\boxed{APOE4}\]
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