New York, September 28, 2026 — Scientists have identified new clues about how the APOE4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, contributes to damage in the brain’s blood vessels.

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that APOE4 can cause cells surrounding small blood vessels to change into scar-forming cells. This can thicken blood vessels and contribute to the accumulation of abnormal amyloid proteins in the brain.

In experiments involving mice, blocking the TGF-beta protein helped protect these cells and reversed signs of blood-vessel damage associated with APOE4.

The researchers said the findings could point to new approaches for protecting blood-vessel function and limiting brain damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, the results are still at the research stage and further studies are needed to determine whether the findings can be applied to human treatment.

The research was published in the journals Cell and Cell Stem Cell.

Source: Reuters
Published: September 28, 2026
Category: Health