Silvia Anderle, PhD, University College London, London, UK, discusses her work looking at the interactions between APOE4 and vascular function in the emergence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. As well as being the strongest genetic risk factor for AD, the APOE4 allele is associated with hypercholesterolemia and ischemic heart disease. It has therefore been suggested that the vascular dysfunction associated with APOE4 may play a role in making the brain more vulnerable to AD development. Using in vivo two-photon microscopy in mouse models, Dr Anderle assessed blood flow and neuronal activity. Mice expressing APOE4 showed impairments in blood vessel responsiveness to neuronal activity, meaning there was a mismatch between energy needs and supply. It is thought that long-term mismatch could contribute to neuronal damage by increasing hypoxia and facilitating toxic protein aggregation. This interview took place at The BNA 2023 International Festival of Neuroscience in Brighton, UK.

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