Several studies have now shown that TBI can start an inflammatory cascade in the brain that leads to a much higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. People with the apoE4 allele, which is the highest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease besides age, are twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s disease than those without apoE4. When people with the apoE4 allele undergo TBI their Alzheimer’s risk climbs to 10-fold! For those individuals with the apoE4 allele, it may be prudent to avoid playing sports that raise the risk of TBI such at football. There are many diet and lifestyle factors that can lower a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s particularly if they have the apoE4 allele including diet high in vegetables, fruit and wild salmon, good sleep, low alcohol intake, and no smoking. I’ll be talking more about Alzheimer’s disease and apoE4 soon…I am submitting a paper for publication on this topic and will be sharing my work very soon!