Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Apolipoprotein (apo) E, a multifunctional protein with central roles in lipid metabolism and neurobiology, has three common isoforms (apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4) with different effects on lipid homeostasis and neurobiology. Unlike apoE3, the most common isoform, apoE4, is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Although the mechanisms underlying apoE4's action in AD pathogenesis are still poorly understood, emerging data strongly suggest that apoE4 contributes to this disease by interacting with different factors through various pathways. Thus, multiple molecular and cellular mechanisms should be considered when anti-AD drugs are developed based on apoE studies.
Key findings
- Unlike apoE3, the most common isoform, apoE4, is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders.
- Although the mechanisms underlying apoE4's action in AD pathogenesis are still poorly understood, emerging data strongly suggest that apoE4 contributes to this disease by interacting with different factors through various pathways.
Why it matters
This review explains that the apoE4 form of apolipoprotein E is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, unlike the more common apoE3 form. It states that the mechanisms behind apoE4's effects are still poorly understood, so no treatment is yet based on this.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 106 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.8 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Yadong Huang: h-index 73 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16432152) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Huang, Y. (2006). Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer disease. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000192102.41141.9e
Vancouver
Huang Y. Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2006. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000192102.41141.9e. PMID: 16432152.
BibTeX
@article{huang2006-16432152,
author = {Huang, Y.},
title = {{Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000192102.41141.9e},
pmid = {16432152},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000192102.41141.9e}
}
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