You can order your no cost, no obligation, sample collection kit by clicking here.
The Biochemical Basis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plays an important role in the metabolism of lipoproteins and cholesterol. The Journal of Neural Chemistry refers to apolipoprotein E as having a mechanism for neural protective affects. The data suggests that ApoE plays three important roles in detoxifying a lipid peroxidation product called HE or 4-hydroxynonenal.
Genetic aberrations in the ApoE gene alter the 3-dimensional formation of lipid molecules so they cannot be fully used in metabolic processes. Depending on the genetic aberration, a person may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The three major human ApoE isoforms ApoE e2, ApoE e3, ApoE e4 have been linked to differing degrees of onset and severity of Alzheimer’s disease. Our ApoE genome test examines the combination of e2/ e3/ e4/isoforms expressed in an individual’s DNA.
-ApoE e2 is relatively rare and may provide some protection again the disease. If Alzheimer’s disease does occur in a person with this allele it develops later in life than it would in an individual with the ApoE 4 gene.
-ApoE e3 is the most common allele. It is believed to play a neutral role, neither increasing nor decreasing risk.
-ApoE e4 is present in about 40% of all people who develop late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and in about 30% of the population. People with Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to have an ApoE e4 allele than people who do not develop Alzheimer’s disease, but it can develop even in the absence of the ApoE e4 allele.
ApoE e4 is a risk factor gene because it increases the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It is important however to remember that some people with one or two ApoE e4 alleles will never get the disease while others who do not have any may develop it.
The Accu-Metric Test Procedure
If you have properly collected your saliva sample the cells present in it containing DNA material have been absorbed in the Accu-Metric paper membrane. We will extract the DNA material from the membrane and it will then be amplified in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using a variety of analytical techniques, we will isolate and identify the ApoE gene and its variants.
A Report of Your Results
Based on the findings of our DNA analysis you will be notified as to which variant of the ApoE gene is present, and the relevant possibilities which you may wish to discuss with your physician.
There are many concerns about whether risk information based upon genetic susceptibility can be properly communicated, and whether such information would benefit or harm those receiving it.
It’s essential to bear in mind that genetic information describes a potential situation that may or may not develop. It is also important to remember that on balance, people have the right to know so they can pursue medical or other advice they deem appropriate.
Genetic variations should be thought of as risk factors and not as certain markers of ultimate disease development.
Alzheimer's and MRI Brain Scans
Over 2000 MRI brain scans have been studied in an effort to
establish linkage between brain shrinkage and genetic
variants.
The results indicate that persons having the varient ApoE-4-4,
which is considered the greatest genetic disposition for
Alzheimer's tend to reflect this in changes to affected areas
of the brain. The hippocampal region of the brain as well as
the amygdala show the greatest deterioration relative to
persons who carry variants 2 or 3 of the ApoE gene. The
shrinkage and degeneration in an area associated with memory,
cognitive and special functions is indicative of a diminishing
number of functional braincells and marked synapse loss.
ApolipoproteinE (ApoE) participates in the trasport of
cholesterol and other lipids, and ApoE4 may interfere with the
regeneration of peripheral and central nervous tissue.
Patients whose Alzheimer's test indicate the ApoE-4-4 genotype
had smaller volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala than those
with other variants.
Your Results
You will be told what your ApoE genetic variants are and their significance in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Regardless of the results, you should not panic. A genetic predisposition does not necessarily mean that Alzheimer’s disease will result.
You should speak to your health care professional and if symptoms should develop, there are medications that will provide some symptomatic relief.
Resent studies show that the progression of Alzheimer’s disease can be impeded by a number of life style factors. Depending on your results our report will include recommendations in the areas of:
1. Diet
2. Nutritional and other supplements
3. Physical and Mental Activities
4. What to avoid
For example, beta-carotene has demonstrated benefits in impeding cognitive decline. This was confirmed by a study in which 7600 patients were supplemented with 50 mg. of beta-carotene every other day for a year (proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Alzheimer’s disease and Related Disorders).
Our report to you will include various recommendations which you may discus with your healthcare professional.
You can order your no cost, no obligation, sample collection kit by clicking here.
Understanding the Significance of Genetic
Markers
The genetic test that Accu-metrics utilizes for common diseases
are risk tests, more analogous to biomarker risk tests such as
LDL-cholesterol and PSA, rather than a determinative Mendelian
genetic test, such as used for Huntington’s disease.
Another concern is that there may be ethical issues in the
introduction of genetic tests for the risk of a disease until
all sequence variants that affect the risk of the disease have
been discovered. This would be equivalent to claiming that it
was wrong to introduce the measurement of cholesterol in
assessing its contribution toward the risk of heart attack
because it does not account for all the risks. The utility of
all risk assessment is dependant on the concern that the
results lead to and enable the implementation of preventative
or mitigating steps.
In the case of Alzheimer’s, ApoE 4 is the highest risk
Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility allele found to date. While
studies continue on other contributing genetic factors such as
the PCDH11X variants or the PTGS2 gene, the role of ApoE 4 is
well established. The importance of detection of a
predisposition is that an individual can take steps to address
a potential problem, bearing in mind that there is no certainty
that they will become a victim of Alzheimer’s.
Accu-metrics believes that DNA based assessment of risk of
disease will be a major force in bringing about a paradigm
shift from interventional to preventative medicine. Common
diseases, such as Alzheimers, occur at the interface of
genetics and the environment as both inherited and
environmental risk factors play important roles in the disease
process. Understanding this genetic component empowers the
individual to take extra screening action through lifestyle
modification to minimize the likelihood of an inherited
predisposition ever developing into disease.
It is implicit in Accu-metrics’ understanding of human rights
that no person should be tested for the risk of disease unless
they want to be tested.
Is a genetic cure for Alzheimer’s possible?
It has been established that certain genes, to date isolated only in rodents, reduce the formation of amyloid and tau proteins whose deposition as plaques cause tangle formation in brain cells, a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
It appears likely that finding a gene or genetic variant in humans that blocks these protein deposits would be a significant advance in the prevention of Alzheimer’s.
These genes work by encoding a protein known as RPS23R1, a stimulant in the production of a further protein GSK-3, which promotes plaque deposition. The search in the human genome for genes that replicate the action of RPS23R1 is being conducted extensively by many research scientists. Should the quest be successful the resultant therapies would be invaluable for those groups of people who have tested positive for certain APOE gene variants detected as a result of the Accu-metrics genetic Alzheimer’s scan.
Current research on the role of Amyloid Plaques indicates although plaques may be present to a limited extent even in normal brains, those plaques tend to be in a more soluble form then those linked to Alzheimers. Other studies have focused on attempts to synthesize anti-bodies that inhibited Amyloid Protein from deposition.
Alzheimers is the most common form of age related dementia and the most feared disease of old age, because there is no cure. The insidious nature of Alzheimer’s disease is that it begins quietly, unobtrusively, and is not clinically detected as it slowly begins to erode brain networks. This mode of onset is a major reason for the need to identify genetic vulnerability such as certain versions of the APO gene, the basis of this test.
Our Alzheimer scan for identification of genetic vulnerability allows individuals to take the requisite dietary and lifestyle steps that will hopefully slow and mitigate the disease by impeding the development of causative factors such as the formation of plaques and tangles in brain tissue.
There is strong evidence that an insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) produced by genetic expression plays a significant role in breaking down amyloid beta plaque a causative factor in Alzheimer’s. Too little IDE will allow for plaque deposition and the APOE gene variants scanned in the Viaguard Test play a role in this process.
Resveratrol increases levels of an enzyme (heme oxygenase) known to protect brain cells from various types of damage, including plaque deposition.
It is not known if it is resveratrol or its metabolites that influence the protective mechanism, but it has been demonstrated that the presence of even minimal levels of resveratrol seems to afford protection from neuronal damage associated with Alzheimer’s.
Natural sources of resveratrol include the skin of red and concord grapes, and any food products that contain them, including red wine.
Studies have shown that Alzheimer's disease is 60-80% heritable, and that the ApoE gene is the dominant gene in this regard. The risk and progress of the disease is measured by neuroimaging, including the volume of the hippocampus, amygdala, and other brain structures. Lifestyle factors including diet impact the degree of onset of the disease.
Are you succumbing to Alzheimer’s?
The normal process of aging is associated with incremental mental degradation that while it may marginally affect cognitive ability is not necessary a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) unless the process of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progresses and increasingly affects language and memory. MCI then becomes a precursor to AD with an accompanying decline in the volume of the hippocampal (HC) area of the brain. The HC is responsible for long term memory and special reasoning. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect HC atrophy there are other important methodologies.
The free and cued selective reminding test (FCRST) can often discriminate between normal memory change and AD. FCRST consists of the participant being shown a set or 24 images and matching the images with descriptive phrases. Participants are then asked to recall as many images as possible and are given clues for those they fail to remember. There is an analysis done of the number of items remembered and recall times.
While MRI detects qualitative brain changes in the hippocampal region, the impact on any particular individual will be variable. FCSRT allows for a more quantitative verification of the stage of cognitive impairment and is a valuable diagnostic adjunct.