ApoE4.Info

I am APOE4/2, 64 year old female. I have very strong maternal family history of AD and not one of those ladies had macular degeneration even into their 80s. I have major genes, homozygous, for both wet and dry macular degeneration. When I open Promethease, macular degeneration pops up first and second and more. I take the AREDS vitamins, but I am not convinced of anything about this association given my family history. I have to say that I am confused and worried! The last thing I envision ( no pun intended- lol) is me with AD and blind. I really just can't go there.

I'm as hopeful as are you. I seems to work on mice. So far it stands to reason. But nature has it's own secret story.

I am 3/4, have AMD genes, plus I'm coeliac (plus gluten ataxia) and have IBS. Im trying to keep to the Ketoflex123 diet and have been using supplements at suggested in the Breseden protocol for several years now, plus I have been taking the ARDS2 supplements plus Vitamin A for AMD for over a year since i was first dx, and assumed since my facial skin got an orange tint, it must be working. However last week I was dx with rapidly deteriorating sight threatening AMD in my left eye, and told its unlikely I can now have cartaract surgery diue to this but have been referred to an eye consultant for confirmation of the diagnosis.
I have since found out coeliac causes malabsorbtion of vitmin A.
I wondered if anyone, especially Stavia, whose information I have been avidly but slowly reading, had any information or advice about the way to go with all these conditions, which seem to impinge on each other and I have a gut feeling (excuse the pun) that somehow the gut is the root cause of them all, gut, brain (we know that link!), eyes. Has anyone any thoughts on this?

Sorry, memory issues! this should have been included in my last query!
I forgot to actually include the important thing I was thinking about in the gut, diet APOE4 AMD query, whether the high fat diet, or keto, obviously with fat, that is good for the ketones for APOE4, could be what is affecting the rapid deterioratrion of the retina due to the drusens being made of fat and that APOE4 have fat transport issues, so I understand?
In addition there seems to be research that shows keto may be beneficial for AMD, and contractictory stuff that says a high fat diet causes rapid deteriorartion of the retina and sight loss, so a low fat diet is better, and further stuff that shoows high carbohydrates are to blame . Although some is in mice and not humans so not sure how transferable it is.

Beskine wrote: ↑Thu Oct 20, 2022 1:33 am I am 3/4, have AMD genes, plus I'm coeliac (plus gluten ataxia) and have IBS. Im trying to keep to the Ketoflex123 diet and have been using supplements at suggested in the Breseden protocol for several years now, plus I have been taking the ARDS2 supplements plus Vitamin A for AMD for over a year since i was first dx, and assumed since my facial skin got an orange tint, it must be working. However last week I was dx with rapidly deteriorating sight threatening AMD in my left eye, and told its unlikely I can now have cartaract surgery diue to this but have been referred to an eye consultant for confirmation of the diagnosis.
I have since found out coeliac causes malabsorbtion of vitmin A.
I wondered if anyone, especially Stavia, whose information I have been avidly but slowly reading, had any information or advice about the way to go with all these conditions, which seem to impinge on each other and I have a gut feeling (excuse the pun) that somehow the gut is the root cause of them all, gut, brain (we know that link!), eyes. Has anyone any thoughts on this?

Welcome Beskine!
Thank you for your detailed post. and for sharing your medical history. You certainly have done your research. Reading through Stavia's Primer is a daunting task! In the Primer, Stavia does acknowledge that many issues are not yet settled for ApoE 4. I suspect that is the case for your specific concerns.

Stavia is a family practitioner who, because of medical ethics, is unlikely to be able to offer specific medical advice. I am sure, however, there are other members in this community who may be able to provide information about similar experiences. An individual's response to specific food plans and/or supplements can be different from another's. Your complex medical history may be one that has no easy answer for best diet or supplements.

As a welcome intern, I am here to point out resources that may be helpful as you explore the site. As you have already found the Primer and Our Stories it is obvious you are navigating the site quite well. Perhaps, in searching the WIKI, you might find additional information that is pertinent to your situation. One great tip is using the quote (") button when replying to a post. Using the button will automatically alert the member of your response.

I am glad you have joined this forum and I hope you find answers to your questions. I hope to hear from you again soon.

Regards,
Kathleen

"Thank you for your reply, I agree, we're all different and respond differently, and unfortunately I have acquired quite a collection of health issues which may have knock on effects for each other. After having muddled through with self management for some years, following retirement of my GP, I was referred to various specialists, then came covid, the local hospital declined the GP referral stating they did not have a specialist gastro department that offered the investigations I needed, and suggested I be referred to a specialist tertiary hospital, which they did, and I am now on the waiting list for consideration by that hospital. The date I was given that I would hear has however come and gone, services are struggling as we know. Its just the AMD news making me investigate the gut diet AMD link, as previously it was the APOE4 gut diet link!"

Hi,

Consider looking into photobiomodulation (red light therapy) to help treat AMD. Here are some studies/sources:

A DOUBLE-MASKED, RANDOMIZED, SHAM-CONTROLLED, SINGLE-CENTER STUDY WITH PHOTOBIOMODULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Markowitz SN, Devenyi RG, Munk MR, Croissant CL, Tedford SE, Rückert R, Walker MG, Patino BE, Chen L, Nido M, Tedford CE. Retina, 2020

Photobiomodulation therapy in age-related macular degeneration
Muste JC, Kalur A, Iyer A, Valentim CCS, Singh RP
Curr. Opin. Ophthalmol., 2021

The first clinical case of dry age-related macular degeneration treated with photobiomodulation and nutraceuticals: a protocol proposal
Pinelli, Bertelli, Scaffidi
CellR4 Repair Replace. Regen. Reprogram.

Two year follow-up of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Koev K, Avramov L, Borissova K
Acta Ophthalmologica, 2012

Chapter 43 Photobiomodulation for the Clinical Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Merry G, Dotson R. Handbook of Low-Level Laser Therapy, 2016

Photobiomodulation reduces drusen volume and improves visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in dry age-related macular degeneration
Merry GF, Munk MR, Dotson RS, Walker MG, Devenyi RG
Acta Ophthalmol., 2017

Study of Photobiomodulation to Treat Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (LIGHTSITE III)
Inc. KN, Kernel Networks Inc.
Case Medical Research, 2019

Treatment of dry age-related-macular degeneration with photobiomodulation
Merry, Devenyi, Dotson, et al.
Proc. Estonian Acad. Sci. Biol. Ecol.

HI thanks very much for all that info, I will plough my way through it!
I have started reading a very informative and practical book on AMD by Lylas and Marja Mogk, and that mentions photomodulation