Test details
- Sample type:
- Single blood draw (blood only)
- Location:
- In-person at local lab / At-home phlebotomist visit (+$119)
- Availability:
- Available in 24 states and Washington, D.C. (not offered in NY or NJ)
- Turnaround:
- Results typically available within 10 days
- Preparation:
- Fast for 10 hours before your draw, water onlyPause supplements for 72 hours
About the Alzheimer's Genetic Risk (ApoE) test
The Alzheimer's Genetic Risk (ApoE) test reports your APOE genotype from a single blood draw. APOE is the gene that carries instructions for apolipoprotein E. That protein moves cholesterol and other fats through the bloodstream. Your result names the two APOE alleles you carry, one inherited from each biological parent.
People come to APOE genotyping from different starting points, most often a family history of Alzheimer's or dementia. Your APOE genotype is fixed for life, so this is a one-time test.
What this panel measures
This panel carries a single biomarker, APOE genotype, reported as the pair of alleles you inherited. Three common versions of the gene exist: epsilon 2, epsilon 3, and epsilon 4, usually written ε2, ε3, and ε4. A single blood draw supplies the sample.
| Variant | How common it is | What it is associated with |
|---|---|---|
| APOE ε2 | Roughly 5% to 10% of people carry it | May offer some protection, and Alzheimer's in a carrier usually develops later in life |
| APOE ε3 | The most common allele, found in more than half of people | Believed to have a neutral effect on risk |
| APOE ε4 | About 15% to 25% of people carry this allele, and 2% to 5% carry two copies | Associated with higher risk of late-onset Alzheimer's, and with an earlier age of onset in certain populations |
| Your genotype pair | Everyone carries two alleles, one from each biological parent | The result reads as a pair such as 3/3, 3/4, or 4/4, with six possible combinations in all |
APOE ε4 raises risk without deciding the outcome
APOE ε4 is a risk factor, not a diagnosis. Carrying one copy is associated with an increased chance of late-onset Alzheimer's. Carrying two copies is associated with greater risk still. The genotype describes where you sit on a spectrum of inherited risk, never what will happen to you.
Two limits sit on either side of that association. Some people who carry an ε4 allele never develop the disease, and not all people with Alzheimer's carry it. In most cases the disease does not have a single genetic cause. Multiple genes can influence it, alongside lifestyle and environmental factors.
An APOE result cannot fully predict who will or won't develop Alzheimer's. Read yours with your provider, your Superpower care team, or a genetic counselor. Any of them can set the genotype beside the rest of your health picture.
What this test does not measure
APOE genotyping reports inherited risk. That is a different thing from a measurement of what is happening in your brain today.
- Amyloid — The panel does not measure amyloid protein, even though APOE ε4 is associated with more amyloid plaques in brain tissue.
- pTau-217 — The panel does not measure pTau-217 or any other plasma protein marker.
- Memory and cognition — Nothing here assesses your current memory, thinking, or cognitive performance.
- Other genetic causes — The panel reports APOE only, so it does not cover the rare single-gene variants behind early-onset Alzheimer's.
A one-time result that speaks to your family
There is no version of this test worth repeating. A second result would read the same, and it cannot track change, improvement, or progression. Because each allele comes from one biological parent, your genotype also carries information about blood relatives on both sides. Whether you share it with them is entirely your call.
Informed consent comes first. You complete the consent notice before purchase, and an APOE result is released only once that consent is on file. On the insurance question, federal protections against genetic discrimination cover health insurance and employment. They do not cover life, disability, or long-term care insurance. Some states add laws of their own. Anyone weighing those implications is better served talking to a qualified insurance or legal professional first.
Who benefits from testing
This test suits an adult who wants inherited context for long-term brain-health decisions. It is not for someone looking for an answer about symptoms they have today.
- You have a family history of Alzheimer's or dementia, and having a parent or sibling diagnosed with the disease is associated with higher risk.
- You want to know whether the everyday habits tied to brain health deserve extra priority, since many lifestyle factors can be changed or managed when genetic ones cannot.
- You are planning long-term and want genetic context for health decisions.
- You would rather know your risk profile than live with the uncertainty.
Availability in your state does not by itself make this the right test for you. That question belongs with your provider or care team.
What your results reveal
Your result is a genotype pair: two alleles such as 3/3, 3/4, or 4/4. You inherit one from each biological parent. The genotype arrives in your Superpower dashboard about 10 days after the blood draw. Every tester also receives an education PDF covering privacy, family implications, and insurance considerations. People weighing a test like this one may benefit from talking with a genetic counselor or doctor. Read yours with your provider or care team.
A self-serve genetic counseling option is offered alongside an ε4 result, and taking it up is your choice. Nothing is booked for you, and the link is there if you want a session.
- What it changes — How much priority you and your provider give the factors associated with cognitive health, among them blood pressure, cardiovascular and metabolic health, seven to nine hours of sleep, and staying mentally engaged.
- What it does not change — The genotype is not a diagnosis, and not a prediction that Alzheimer's will occur.
- What it does not need — No repeat testing, because your APOE genotype stays the same for life.
Reference ranges vary by lab and individual. Your Superpower care team and your provider can help you interpret your specific results in context.
How to prepare
Collection is a standard blood draw, and your appointment instructions are the ones to follow.
- Fast for 10 hours beforehand, water only.
- Skip caffeine before the draw.
- Drink water so you arrive well hydrated.
- Skip alcohol and heavy, fatty meals the day before.
- Pause supplements for 72 hours.
- Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours.
- Keep taking prescribed medication unless the clinician who prescribed it advises otherwise.
Questions about preparation go to your Superpower care team.
How it works
- Order online — You order the test and complete the informed consent notice, which has to be on file before an APOE result can be released.
- Give a sample — Your blood sample is collected at a partner lab or through an at-home draw, whichever you book.
- Review your results — The genotype appears in your Superpower dashboard about 10 days after the draw, with the education PDF attached.
Frequently asked questions
Biomarkers tested
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a protein that plays a central role in how your body transports and metabolizes cholesterol and other fats — particularly in the brain.
Learn moreMethod: APOE genotyping by real-time PCR (Quest Cardio IQ APOE Genotype). Laboratory-developed test validated under CLIA; not cleared or approved by the FDA. Results are interpreted by clinicians in context and are not a stand-alone diagnosis.
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