Is APOE useful for Sport?

The utility of APOE for sport is questionable. APOE (apolipoprotein E) is primarily studied for Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular risk. The ε4 allele is linked to increased risk of neurodegeneration and poorer recovery after traumatic brain injury. In sports, APOE has been proposed to influence cognitive performance, injury susceptibility, and recovery, but the evidence is weak: effect sizes are small, and findings are inconsistent. Direct-to-consumer tests marketing APOE as a 'sport gene' overstate the science. For practical sports advice—training type, nutrition, or injury prevention—APOE has no established role. Athletes should focus on proven factors like training load, sleep, and diet. A cautious note: ε4 carriers may have elevated risk of concussion complications, relevant for contact sports. Overall, the evidence is marketing-driven, not clinically actionable. Consumers should be skeptical of claims that APOE can guide personalized sport recommendations.