A new study from the University of Missouri provides promising insights into potential strategies for reducing Alzheimer’s disease risk, particularly among people who carry the APOE4 gene variant, which is associated with a higher likelihood of developing the disease.

Ai-Ling Lin, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and a researcher at the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, is investigating ways to identify and address early changes linked to Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear.

Her research focuses on APOE4 carriers, who can experience reduced blood flow to specific areas of the brain years before memory problems develop. This makes changes in cerebral blood flow a potential early indicator of Alzheimer’s risk.

In her latest study, Lin found that the anti-aging drug rapamycin increased brain blood flow in healthy middle-aged adults carrying APOE4. The study involved adults between 45 and 65 years old, with participants taking a low dose of rapamycin daily for four weeks.

The researchers found that the improvement in brain blood flow occurred specifically among participants carrying the APOE4 variant. The findings suggest that rapamycin may have potential for addressing certain early biological changes associated with increased Alzheimer’s risk, although further research is needed to determine whether improved blood flow translates into reduced disease risk or preserved cognitive function.

Lin previously studied rapamycin in mice with APOE4, where the drug was associated with slower brain aging and improved cerebral blood flow. The new human study was designed to explore whether similar effects could be observed in people who had not yet developed Alzheimer’s symptoms.

The study also found that female APOE4 carriers experienced the greatest improvement in brain blood flow. Lin highlighted this finding as an example of precision medicine, where treatments may be tailored to individuals based on specific biological risk factors.

The research is being conducted within the University of Missouri’s NextGen Precision Health environment, which brings researchers and clinicians together to accelerate the development and testing of potential treatments for human disease.

Source: https://showme.missouri.edu/2026/mizzou-research-offers-new-hope-for-those-at-higher-risk-of-alzheimers-disease/