APOE4 Is A Genetic Risk Factor For Alzheimer's — Should You Find Out Your Status?

In a world where wellness icons like Chris Hemsworth lead the charge toward optimal health, discovering genetic predispositions to health risks serves as a wake-up call.

Known for his peak physical condition, while he was truly testing the boundaries of the human body and mind in his 2022 National Geographic docuseries Limitless With Chris Hemsworth, he found out that he has two copies of the APOE4 gene—putting him at an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease—from a consultation with longevity-focused doctor Peter Attia, M.D. 

This gene variant is not confined to the realm of elite consultations or specialized medical practices—it's readily accessible through various direct-to-consumer DNA kits.

But as the accessibility of genetic testing grows, so does the debate surrounding its usefulness. The question looms large: Is knowing your genetic risk for Alzheimer's truly beneficial?

On one hand, the APOE4 variant's presence doesn't definitively predict Alzheimer's onset—after all, the disease can manifest with or without genetic predisposition.

On the other hand, however, emerging research emphasizes the pivotal role of lifestyle factors in Alzheimer's development, suggesting that proactive lifestyle changes may mitigate genetic risk factors.

At mindbodygreen, we're proponents of taking a proactive approach to your health by harnessing the power of data that's available to you—if you want to use it. 

APOE is a gene that provides the body with instructions for making a protein called apolipoprotein E (typically involved in the metabolism of fats in the body). 

There are several versions of the APOE gene, and APOE4 is the one that's linked to increasing a person's risk for developing late-onset (aka after age 65) Alzheimer's disease—the most common form of dementia that affects over 6.7 million Americans. 

You can inherit an APOE4 gene from each parent. About 25% of people carry one copy of APOE4, and only about 2-3% of people carry two copies. Chris Hemsworth falls into the latter, which Attia discerned during the series may put him at an eight to 10 times higher risk of developing Alzheimer's 

Integrative neurologist Romie Mushtaq, M.D., notes that genetic tests are not routinely used in clinical settings—even integrative ones—to diagnose or predict the risk of developing Alzheimer's or related dementia. 

"Although APOE testing is also available, the results cannot fully predict who will or won't develop Alzheimer's," she notes. Even if you have one or both copies of the APOE4 gene, it doesn't mean that you will develop Alzheimer's, and not everyone with Alzheimer's has a copy of APOE4.

The Alzheimer's Association also emphasizes the relationship between APOE4 and Alzheimer's is the strongest in white, European-descended populations. And according to new research, that association is not as well established for other populations. 

"I want to honor that watching a loved one suffer through dementia of any type is heartbreaking and traumatic," says Mushtaq. "I have experienced this both as a neurologist taking care of patients with memory loss, and by watching my beloved maternal grandmother suffer from dementia. Unfortunately, genetic testing is not the end-all and be-all answer." 

"Women are advised if their family history is suggestive of breast cancer to make sure they don't have breast cancer genes. Why? Because they can act on that information and prevent breast cancer," Attia said on a mindbodygreen podcast. "Knowing that you have an APOE4 gene will allow you to do a lot of things to mitigate the risk of dementia." 

And Mushtaq does agree that we are more in control of our long-term brain health than we realize. "Most Alzheimer's disease cases have to do with lifestyle and health choices regarding ​​our nutrition, movement, sleep routines, meditation, and social connections we make starting in our 30s and beyond."

While everyone can benefit from brain-protecting habits, it may be especially important for those who have an APOE4 gene. A 2019 study published in JAMA found that making favorable lifestyle choices was linked to a lower risk of dementia1—regardless of genetic risk. Whereas following unfavorable habits and having a high genetic risk significantly increased dementia risk. 

Attia even told Hemsworth during the Limitless series that his test result was a blessing. "This will motivate you to take steps today that most people [in their 40s] would never think about until they're in their 50s or 60s," he said. 

Many people may be hesitant to undergo genetic testing, as they fear a futile outcome—which is valid. 

But your daily habits in pretty much every decade can sway whether or not you develop Alzheimer's. Finding out your genetic risk of Alzheimer's can shed light on just how important a healthy lifestyle is for your brain health—especially if you have two copies of the gene—and how detrimental unhealthy habits are for further raising your risk for Alzheimer's.

As Hemsworth said on his show, "The idea that I won't get to remember the life I've experienced or my wife, my kids…this is probably my biggest fear." Knowing his genetic risk for Alzheimer's has shaped the way he'll live his life moving forward.

Personally, as a 28-year-old dietitian with no family history of Alzheimer's, I have not and am not urgently seeking a genetic test to capture my APOE4 status.

I'm not against knowing (and will honestly likely get a test at some point in my life), but I'm confident that the lifestyle choices I'm currently making align with what is best for my future brain health, and knowing these results won't really shift my daily decisions. 

Having the APOE4 gene indicates that you may be at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life—but your genes aren't your destiny. 

Whether or not you decide to go through with genetic testing for APOE4 (or you found the result unknowingly from say a 23andMe test) is completely your decision.

Some people prefer not to know because it may incite fear, and it's still not an indicator of whether you will develop the disease or not.

But having test results can provide a sense of relief from uncertainty and help you make informed decisions about health moving forward.