Topic: Genetics and APOE
Previous experimental studies suggested a link between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and epilepsy. However, clinical studies have failed to reach a definitive conclusion on the association. We conducted a cohort study to investigate the clinical correlation between APOE ε4 and epilepsy. This study was based on the UK Biobank. Participants were divided according to the number of APOE ε4 carriers. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyse the association between APOE ε4 and the risk of epilepsy, and the association between APOE ε4 and dementia after epilepsy, and the association between APOE ε4 and death. The presence of the APOE ε4 allele was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy, particularly late-onset epilepsy, but the difference in the proportion of APOE ε4 carriers compared with controls in post-stroke epilepsy varied by condition. APOE ε4 carriers were found to have a higher likelihood of dementia following epilepsy onset, with those carrying one copy of the APOE ε4 allele having an approximately 80% higher risk of dementia after epilepsy, and those carrying two copies of the APOE ε4 allele having an approximately 225% higher risk of dementia after epilepsy. APOE ε4 carriers with epilepsy also showed an elevated risk of death, with a trend toward increased risk in those carrying one copy of the APOE ε4 allele and an approximately 39% higher risk of death in those carrying two copies of the APOE ε4 allele. The APOE ε4 allele was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy, particularly late-onset epilepsy among homozygous carriers. Among participants with epilepsy, APOE ε4 carrier status was associated with an increased risk of dementia and premature death, particularly death from neurological causes.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Liu, S., Fan, L., He, Z., Yi, T., Wang, J., Zhao, J., et al. (2026). Association of apolipoprotein E gene with risk, cognition, and prognosis of epilepsy. Human genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-026-02876-9
Vancouver
Liu S, Fan L, He Z, Yi T, Wang J, Zhao J, et al. Association of apolipoprotein E gene with risk, cognition, and prognosis of epilepsy. Human genetics. 2026. doi:10.1007/s00439-026-02876-9. PMID: 42799898.
BibTeX
@article{liu2026-42799898,
author = {Liu, Shengyi and Fan, Lingjie and He, Zihua and Yi, Tong and Wang, Jiaqi and Zhao, Junhan and Sander, Josemir W and Zhou, Dong and others},
title = {{Association of apolipoprotein E gene with risk, cognition, and prognosis of epilepsy}},
journal = {Human genetics},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1007/s00439-026-02876-9},
pmid = {42799898},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-026-02876-9}
}
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Key findings
- The presence of the APOE ε4 allele was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy, particularly late-onset epilepsy, but the difference in the proportion of APOE ε4 carriers compared with controls in post-stroke epilepsy varied by condition.
- APOE ε4 carriers were found to have a higher likelihood of dementia following epilepsy onset, with those carrying one copy of the APOE ε4 allele having an approximately 80% higher risk of dementia after epilepsy, and those carrying two copies of the APOE ε4 allele having an approximately 225% higher risk of dementia after epilepsy.
- APOE ε4 carriers with epilepsy also showed an elevated risk of death, with a trend toward increased risk in those carrying one copy of the APOE ε4 allele and an approximately 39% higher risk of death in those carrying two copies of the APOE ε4 allele.
- The APOE ε4 allele was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy, particularly late-onset epilepsy among homozygous carriers.
- Among participants with epilepsy, APOE ε4 carrier status was associated with an increased risk of dementia and premature death, particularly death from neurological causes.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record, multi-centre collaboration and free to read, so those were left out: it earned 34 of the 56 points we could judge it on, which is 61 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Human genetics) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42799898) |
| Free to read | — / 2 | Access not recorded — left out of this score |
| Points | 34 / 56 | Scored on 10 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 34 of the 56 points we could judge it on is 61 out of 100. |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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