The study, published in JAMA Neurology, measured memory performance, brain structure according to lower hippocampal volume and the presence of amyloid – brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our objectives were to compare age, sex and APOE ε4 effects on memory performance, hippocampal volume and amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) across the adult lifespan,” write the authors.

APOE ε4 is a gene that is consistently identified as a risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and has been found to significantly lower the age of onset for this condition. It is also recognized as a risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease as well.

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