Scientists have known that diseases that put you at risk for stroke, such as hypertension and diabetes, also damage the brain. The new study, by Charles DeCarli, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at the KU Medical Center, and his colleagues, shows that if you have the apoE4 gene and vascular disorders like hypertension and diabetes, then the damage to your brain is likely to be worse. These findings were reported at a recent meeting of the American Heart Association's International Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation. One function of all these genes is to break down cholesterol in the body. The link between the apoE genes and cholesterol breakdown explains why E4, which isn't much good at disposing of cholesterol, has been linked to heart problems.
High cholesterol leads to plaque on artery walls.
The plaque narrows the passage of blood through an artery just as lime buildup blocks the flow of water through pipes. When the artery gets too narrow, or entirely clogged, people get heart pains, attacks and failures. People inherit apoE genes from their parents. They get one copy of the gene from each parent. It's genetic roulette, and the consequences can be devastating.