COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 208
Affects enzyme speed. The T allele (red or +/+ on reports) is
associated with slower enzyme activity, while the G allele (green
or -/- on reports) is linked to faster activity [22][23].
Impact: Slower MAO-A activity can lead to:
● Higher levels of serotonin and dopamine [22]
● Potentially increased anxiety or mood issues
● Altered stress response [23]
APOE (Apolipoprotein E)
Function: APOE is involved in lipid transport and metabolism,
particularly cholesterol [24].
Key Variants: There are three main APOE alleles: ε2, ε3, and ε4,
determined by two SNPs:
rs429358 and rs7412
Together, these SNPs determine which APOE type you have [25].
Impact:
● APOE ε3: The most common allele (found in more than half
the population), considered neutral for disease risk [25][26].
● APOE ε4: Increases risk for Alzheimer's disease and is
associated with earlier age of onset. Also linked to increased
cardiovascular risk. About 15-25% of people have one copy,
and 2-5% have two copies [25][26].
● APOE ε2: May provide protection against Alzheimer's disease,
delaying onset if it does occur. Found in approximately 5-10%
of people [25][26].
Interesting Research: Stanford researchers discovered a rare
mutation (R251G) that, when inherited with APOE ε4, appears to
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