Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> Carriers
The <i>ApoE4</i> allele is the most well-studied genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that is increasing in prevalence and remains without a cure. Precision nutrition targeting metabolic pathways altered by <i>ApoE4</i> provides a tool for the potential pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1362 |
| _version_ | 1797537224379596800 |
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| author | Nicholas G. Norwitz Nabeel Saif Ingrid Estrada Ariza Richard S. Isaacson |
| author_facet | Nicholas G. Norwitz Nabeel Saif Ingrid Estrada Ariza Richard S. Isaacson |
| author_sort | Nicholas G. Norwitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The <i>ApoE4</i> allele is the most well-studied genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that is increasing in prevalence and remains without a cure. Precision nutrition targeting metabolic pathways altered by <i>ApoE4</i> provides a tool for the potential prevention of disease. However, no long-term human studies have been conducted to determine effective nutritional protocols for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in <i>ApoE4</i> carriers. This may be because relatively little is yet known about the precise mechanisms by which the genetic variant confers an increased risk of dementia. Fortunately, recent research is beginning to shine a spotlight on these mechanisms. These new data open up the opportunity for speculation as to how carriers might ameliorate risk through lifestyle and nutrition. Herein, we review recent discoveries about how <i>ApoE4</i> differentially impacts microglia and inflammatory pathways, astrocytes and lipid metabolism, pericytes and blood–brain barrier integrity, and insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. We use these data as a basis to speculate a precision nutrition approach for <i>ApoE4</i> carriers, including a low-glycemic index diet with a ketogenic option, specific Mediterranean-style food choices, and a panel of seven nutritional supplements. Where possible, we integrate basic scientific mechanisms with human observational studies to create a more complete and convincing rationale for this precision nutrition approach. Until recent research discoveries can be translated into long-term human studies, a mechanism-informed practical clinical approach may be useful for clinicians and patients with <i>ApoE4</i> to adopt a lifestyle and nutrition plan geared towards Alzheimer’s risk reduction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:12:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f472d13ec3d044ae88cf5279d1c44d4e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:12:04Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-f472d13ec3d044ae88cf5279d1c44d4e2023-11-21T16:10:06ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-04-01134136210.3390/nu13041362Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> CarriersNicholas G. Norwitz0Nabeel Saif1Ingrid Estrada Ariza2Richard S. Isaacson3Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USADepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, NY 10065, USAThe <i>ApoE4</i> allele is the most well-studied genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that is increasing in prevalence and remains without a cure. Precision nutrition targeting metabolic pathways altered by <i>ApoE4</i> provides a tool for the potential prevention of disease. However, no long-term human studies have been conducted to determine effective nutritional protocols for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in <i>ApoE4</i> carriers. This may be because relatively little is yet known about the precise mechanisms by which the genetic variant confers an increased risk of dementia. Fortunately, recent research is beginning to shine a spotlight on these mechanisms. These new data open up the opportunity for speculation as to how carriers might ameliorate risk through lifestyle and nutrition. Herein, we review recent discoveries about how <i>ApoE4</i> differentially impacts microglia and inflammatory pathways, astrocytes and lipid metabolism, pericytes and blood–brain barrier integrity, and insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. We use these data as a basis to speculate a precision nutrition approach for <i>ApoE4</i> carriers, including a low-glycemic index diet with a ketogenic option, specific Mediterranean-style food choices, and a panel of seven nutritional supplements. Where possible, we integrate basic scientific mechanisms with human observational studies to create a more complete and convincing rationale for this precision nutrition approach. Until recent research discoveries can be translated into long-term human studies, a mechanism-informed practical clinical approach may be useful for clinicians and patients with <i>ApoE4</i> to adopt a lifestyle and nutrition plan geared towards Alzheimer’s risk reduction.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1362Alzheimer’s diseaseApoE4precision nutritionastrocytesmicrogliablood–brain barrier |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas G. Norwitz Nabeel Saif Ingrid Estrada Ariza Richard S. Isaacson Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> Carriers Nutrients Alzheimer’s disease ApoE4 precision nutrition astrocytes microglia blood–brain barrier |
| title | Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> Carriers |
| title_full | Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> Carriers |
| title_fullStr | Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> Carriers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> Carriers |
| title_short | Precision Nutrition for Alzheimer’s Prevention in <i>ApoE4</i> Carriers |
| title_sort | precision nutrition for alzheimer s prevention in i apoe4 i carriers |
| topic | Alzheimer’s disease ApoE4 precision nutrition astrocytes microglia blood–brain barrier |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1362 |
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