Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Recent data have demonstrated genetic disequilibrium between inheritance of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) epsilon 4 allele and increased risk of Alzheimer disease. We tested the idea that inheritance of other allelic variations of apoE might also increase or decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer disease. We studied apoE genotypes in a large clinic based population of Alzheimer disease patients and age-compatible, tested control individuals. We confirm the genetic disequilibrium between apoE epsilon 4 and Alzheimer disease and now report that inheritance of apoE epsilon 2, another common variant of the apolipoprotein E gene, is negatively associated with risk of developing Alzheimer disease.
Key findings
- Recent data have demonstrated genetic disequilibrium between inheritance of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) epsilon 4 allele and increased risk of Alzheimer disease.
- We confirm the genetic disequilibrium between apoE epsilon 4 and Alzheimer disease and now report that inheritance of apoE epsilon 2, another common variant of the apolipoprotein E gene, is negatively associated with risk of developing Alzheimer disease.
Why it matters
In a large clinic-based population, this study confirmed that inheriting the APOE4 allele is linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease. It also reported that inheriting the APOE2 variant is negatively associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed 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 | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuroscience letters) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neuroscience Letters: journal h-index 267 (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 | 1994 — 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 126 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.7 citations a year over 34 year(s) since 1994 |
| 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 | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Bradley T. Hyman: h-index 190 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Massachusetts General Hospital: institution h-index 2,057 (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 7970208) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
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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
West, H. L., Rebeck, G. W., & Hyman, B. T. (1994). Frequency of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 2 allele is diminished in sporadic Alzheimer disease. Neuroscience letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(94)91074-x
Vancouver
West HL, Rebeck GW, Hyman BT. Frequency of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 2 allele is diminished in sporadic Alzheimer disease. Neuroscience letters. 1994. doi:10.1016/0304-3940(94)91074-x. PMID: 7970208.
BibTeX
@article{west1994-7970208,
author = {West, H. L. and Rebeck, G. W. and Hyman, B. T.},
title = {{Frequency of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 2 allele is diminished in sporadic Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Neuroscience letters},
year = {1994},
doi = {10.1016/0304-3940(94)91074-x},
pmid = {7970208},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(94)91074-x}
}
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