The Power of Knowing Means Genetic Peace of Mind

ApoE ε4 is the Gene Associated with the Increased Risk. It is What we Test for.

ApoE ε4 is most frequently linked to impaired cognitive function and problems recovering after a head injury. People carrying the ApoE ε4 gene exhibit a greater propensity for head injury and more severe symptoms.

What we Look for:

Millions of Americans are carriers of the ApoE ε4 variation.  That means they are categorized as high-risk individuals for head trauma and our concussions. Data suggests between 15% and 25% of the population have this type of gene.  Knowing your risk and potential recovery time is key to preventing long term negative effects on the brain.

The Evidence:

• ApoE ε4 is listed as a risk factor to chronic neurobehavioral impairment in professional athletes in a study conducted by The American Academy of Neurology.

• Neurological and cognitive function and the negative effects of ApoE ε4 was studied in retired boxers. Researchers found the carriers of ApoE ε4 had worse brain function than non-carriers. The study also concluded, the more severe damage in the event of repeat head injuries.
• Research suggests that one’s genotype is among the pre-injury risk factors for brain trauma.
• ApoE ε4 has been linked to repeat cases of head trauma and lower cognitive performance versus non ε4 carriers.  
• ApoE ε4 carriers are shown in multiple clinical studies to be more likely to have negative outcomes after injuries to the brain. The brains of people with this genetic variant tend to have more protein clumps, called amyloid plaques, than the brains of people without the variant. It’s possible that these plaques can cause disturbance throughout the network of neurons in the brain.
• Up to 30% of people who suffer a severe traumatic brain injury show signs of plaque in the brain. These plaques seem to develop very quickly — sometimes within two hours — after injury. It has been suggested that people with the ApoE ε4 variant may simply be more likely to develop plaque in their brain, which is worsened by trauma — predisposing them to developing long term cognitive problems.
• Not everyone who suffers a brain injury or carries the ε4 variant will develop plaque or experience cognitive impairment. However, being aware of the risk can encourage proactive measures to avoid head injuries.  

The Scientific Evidence

• Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 associated with chronic traumatic brain injury in boxing
• Evaluating the Effects of APOE4 after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Experimental Models
• Apolipoprotein E4 and traumatic brain injury
• Gene variant may increase psychiatric risk after traumatic brain injury
• ApoE4-associated phospholipid dysregulation contributes to development of Tau hyper-phosphorylation after traumatic brain injury
• Apolipoprotein E4 impairs spontaneous blood brain barrier repair following traumatic brain injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury-1Apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 Genotype is Associated with Increased Psychiatric Distress in Veterans with a History of Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brian Injury