A mounting body of evidence is linking cardiovascular risk factors, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and cholesterol levels, with Alzheimer’s Disease. Apolipoproteins, because of their role in cholesterol and lipid metabolism, therefore make an interesting target for researchers studying AD. A longitudinal study led by team of scientists in Sydney, Australia sought to determine if apolipoproteins could serve as markers for the pre-dementia stages of AD. The results, published this week in PLoS One, show that levels of several of the apo-markers were abnormal in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment. These proteins can be added to the growing list of biomarkers that may be useful in developing early screening methods for AD.
