Forget me not Back in 1999, researchers uncovered a genetic factor that plays a significant role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Everyone has specific proteins in their blood called apolipoproteins, but there are different types of apolipoproteins and the types found in your body are determined by your own particular genetic makeup. Based on the research done in the late 90s, it seems that people with the apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) have a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer's disease than people with other forms of apolipoprotein E (see the "What is..." section below for more information on apolipoprotein E). It turns out that ApoE4 is not as efficient as the other types in preventing the build up of the plaques that contribute to the onset of the disease. Now, though, people with this particular genetic drawback may be able to boost their odds a bit simply by supplementing with extra beta carotene. Researchers from UCLA School of Medicine recently studied a group of 116 people with the ApoE4 gene and 339 people without it for seven years. They found that the people in the ApoE4 group with the highest levels of beta-carotene had 89 percent less risk of cognitive decline. But even if you don't know your Apo-status, supplementing with beta-carotene can only help in the fight against Alzheimer's. Even in the non-ApoE4 group, high beta-carotene levels still resulted in an 11 percent risk reduction. Source:
"Beta-carotene may protect certain people against Alzheimer's," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 12/4/06 | 
