Unraveling Apolipoprotein E’s Role in Alzheimer’s Disease: Insights into miRNA & Glial Regulation and Amyloid Pathology.

• Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a brain disorder that some people develop as they age. It affects memory and thinking. A protein called ApoE is important in managing fats in the body and supporting brain health. An abnormal variant of APOE4, increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but scientists don’t know why.
• Research shows that mice without ApoE or with human APOE4, and humans with APOE4, have similar problems with fat metabolism, memory, and brain health. Since the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, connects directly to the brain, studying it can provide important clues about how Alzheimer’s affects the brain.
• We will analyze brain, retina, and tear samples from mice without ApoE and those with human APOE4 to look for cell-level changes linked to inflammation, harmful protein buildup, and nerve damage. Tear samples from AD patients with and without APOE4 will also be studied. Results will be shared through workshops, scientific papers, and policy briefs.
• Our goal is to identify early warning signs of AD and understand how ApoE contributes to brain and eye damage. The findings may lead to simple, risk-free tear tests for early AD detection and inspire new treatments targeting ApoE pathways.