Journal of Pharmacological Reports
Open Access

Abstract

Importance of Apolipoprotein E in Vascular Dementia, Stroke Prevalence and Associated Cognitive Dysfunction

Dandekar MP and Shaoling Huang

Atherosclerosis, cerebral hypoperfusion or hypertension is the most common pathogenic risk factors in about half of all strokes patients and also found causative to vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). While the precise underlying mechanisms of the VCI are poorly understood, vascular dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and heart disease has shared a genetic link with Apolipoprotein E (APOE). Typically, APOE is well known for its effects on regulation of cholesterol metabolism. Epidemiological surveys also emphasized the improper functioning of an APOE harboring the allele epsilon4 (APOE4) genotype in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and AD. Moreover, enhanced expression of APOE has been reported by astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in injured brain structures. The preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated a strong correlation between the APOE polymorphism and development of vascular disease and dementia. This paper summarizes an intriguing role of APOE4 genotype in the sick heart, prevalence of stroke and their association with occurrence of cognitive deterioration.