Investigating the Mechanism of Entorhinal Cortex Hypermetabolism in APOE4 Targeted Replacement Mice

Carriers of the APOE4 gene are at significantly increased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. We have discovered that aging mice that express the APOE4 gene possess increased activity in a region of the brain that is implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, and we think this increased activity may be an important link between APOE4 and Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In order to understand the cause of this increased brain activity, we will utilize sophisticated techniques to measure important genes and proteins known to increase brain activity. We anticipate the results of this study will yield significant insights into the biology of APOE4 and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as how Alzheimer’s disease may be treated or prevented in these individuals.