Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. The prevalence of this disorder is expected to be on the rise, and affects a great number of people. APOE4 is a variant allele found to increase the risk of AD. In addition, the consumption of alcohol exacerbates the onset and magnitude of AD, while also having its negative effects on cognition, potentially by increasing neuroinflammation. We have a knock-in mouse model with the human APOE4 gene that will be used to test the effects of this gene (APOE4) by environment (alcohol) interaction on memory. We expect to observe cognitive impairments that emerge over time due to the increased APOE4 gene expression. We also hypothesize that alcohol will exacerbate the risk of early cognitive impairments in the APOE4 mice compared to the control mice. Understanding how everyday choices such as alcohol use can interact with our genetic predisposition to AD has significant potential to improve individual outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Forcier, Madison, "132-How Does a Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and Alcohol Use Affect Memory in a Mouse Model?" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 30.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/30
132-How Does a Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and Alcohol Use Affect Memory in a Mouse Model?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. The prevalence of this disorder is expected to be on the rise, and affects a great number of people. APOE4 is a variant allele found to increase the risk of AD. In addition, the consumption of alcohol exacerbates the onset and magnitude of AD, while also having its negative effects on cognition, potentially by increasing neuroinflammation. We have a knock-in mouse model with the human APOE4 gene that will be used to test the effects of this gene (APOE4) by environment (alcohol) interaction on memory. We expect to observe cognitive impairments that emerge over time due to the increased APOE4 gene expression. We also hypothesize that alcohol will exacerbate the risk of early cognitive impairments in the APOE4 mice compared to the control mice. Understanding how everyday choices such as alcohol use can interact with our genetic predisposition to AD has significant potential to improve individual outcomes.