zil dunn wrote:I'm e4/e4 and soon to be 49 years old. I dabble with the keto diet and take many supplements. My dad is in memory care in Texas and my mom is in memory care in Florida. I've been preparing myself and family for proactive approach regarding my health. I need help!!!
A warm hug, zil dunn,
You are to be commended for being proactive with yourself and your family during such a difficult time for you and your parents.
As a woman with ApoE 4/4 who is almost 67, with a maternal family history of strokes, heart disease and dementia and a dad who died of severe coronary artery disease at age 67, I am deeply sympathetic to someone who has to worry about her parents, herself, and her children. I have found that being proactive is empowering, regardless of what measures we take to do so. I also recognize that ApoE 4 is a risk allele, not a dominant gene that gives us no options to have a longer health-span and life-span than those that came before us. It may be helpful to you to check out this recent meta-analysis of risk from four large cohorts of people followed for many years. The risks listed in the excerpt are applicable only to those ages 60-75. People you age have many more years to implement lifestyle suggestions and likely a much better health and diet history than your parents' generation.
The Generation Study elected to disclose the following “lifetime” risks of MCI or dementia to its potential participants: 30%–55% for individuals with APOE-e4/e4; 20%–25% for individuals with APOE-e3/e4 and -e2/e4 (with a note that risk might be lower for those with APOE-e2/e4); and 10%–15% for individuals with APOE-e3/e3, -e3/e2, and -e2/e2 (with a note that risk might be lower for those with APOE-e2/e3 and -e2/e2). These values are consistent with our findings, but use round numbers for intelligibility, and broader ranges to reflect statistical and other sources of uncertainty.
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APOE-related risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia for prevention trials: An analysis of four cohorts
Since this is your first post, I would encourage you to spend some time checking out some key information. Here are some handy links:
We encourage new users to share their own stories of finding out about ApoE4, their own best practices to enjoy a healthy life and any questions or favorite topics on
Our Stories
APOE-ε4 Introduction is especially useful if you just recently found out you have ApoE4. In case you have not yet decided about disclosing your status to your family members, here's a forum thread with lots of views:
Tell my children or not?
The
Primer is an easy-to-browse resource with topic headings of topics related to strategies to understand and manage risk that you can begin at a pace that works for you.
"How-To" Get the most out of the ApoE4.info website is a great resource for new users. It shows screen shots of how to quote users so they will see your posts, how to search topics and how to use our
Wiki.
Please keep posting; we are here to support each other in what is a journey of discovery--and hope.