Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clinically characterized with progressive memory loss and
cognitive decline. Synaptic dysfunction is an early pathological feature that occurs prior to
neurodegeneration and memory dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that aggregation
of amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau leads to synaptic deficits and
neurodegeneration, thereby to memory loss. Among the established genetic risk factors for
AD, the ɛ4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest genetic risk factor. We and …

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) has been studied extensively with regard to its role in plasma
lipoprotein lipid transport. A role for apoE in the transport of membrane cholesterol and
phospholipid in the central and peripheral nervous system has also been studied. Entorhinal
cortex-lesioned rats have been used extensively to examine the molecular mechanisms
associated with deafferentation and reinnervation in the CNS; studies of the role of apoE in
this process using this animal model are described. In all human populations examined …