Apoe 3/4 gene and white matter hyperintensities

[Anta76]

I am 48 almost 49. A quick recap of my story: a lifelong migraine sufferer had an MRI where multiple millimetric white matter hyperintensities were found . I have done so much testing and all they found is that I have one copy of the gene. So maybe these lesions came from the gene.
I'm scared out of my mind. Artificial intelligence says Apoe A3 gene and subcortical lesions mean I have 7 years to live at most. In all my life I took good care of myself I lift weights I watch what I eat avoid sugar and everything always have never used alcohol at all never partied never drugs but what was the point??

[TLS]

I am 48 almost 49. A quick recap of my story: a lifelong migraine sufferer had an MRI where multiple millimetric white matter hyperintensities were found . I have done so much testing and all they found is that I have one copy of the gene. So maybe these lesions came from the gene.
I'm scared out of my mind. Artificial intelligence says Apoe A3 gene and subcortical lesions mean I have 7 years to live at most. In all my life I took good care of myself I lift weights I watch what I eat avoid sugar and everything always have never used alcohol at all never partied never drugs but what was the point??

Hi Anita,
Please remember that while AI can be helpful it is not at the point where it can be relied on and often makes mistakes called hallucinations. A computer is not going to be able to predict live expectancy for you as an individual. This forum is a wonderful reminder of the importance of taking care of yourself which it sounds like you are.

[NF52]

I am 48 almost 49. A quick recap of my story: a lifelong migraine sufferer had an MRI where multiple millimetric white matter hyperintensities were found . I have done so much testing and all they found is that I have one copy of the gene. So maybe these lesions came from the gene.
I'm scared out of my mind. Artificial intelligence says Apoe A3 gene and subcortical lesions mean I have 7 years to live at most. In all my life I took good care of myself I lift weights I watch what I eat avoid sugar and everything always have never used alcohol at all never partied never drugs but what was the point??

Hi Anita,
Please remember that while AI can be helpful it is not at the point where it can be relied on and often makes mistakes called hallucinations. A computer is not going to be able to predict live expectancy for you as an individual. This forum is a wonderful reminder of the importance of taking care of yourself which it sounds like you are.

Hi Anita,

As someone who has two copies of ApoE 4 and is 72, and had a mild concussion at age 42, and also gets to talk and listen to LOTS of researchers in academic and clinical trials, I want to tell you what I heard from two experts in "machine learning" and AI just least week: Machine learning is a way of using computers to "learn" from huge reams of data, in medical records for example, to find rare side effects of drugs, or to find rare genes that might be associated with better or worse recovery from a brain injury--if that model verified on yet more and larger data sets. These experts said that many plans for AI and machine learning do not understand the statistical complexity of this work. It's not like vaccuming up every Google entry; it's more like having a Ph.D. in statistics determine relevant data from 1000's or tens of 1000's of people to learn subtle factors that humans wouldn't be able to find. But that's not the same as predicting for a single person. None of these experts could say anything about when, how or if ApoE 4/4 will affect my specific life.

AI is often much simpler than big computer models. As TLS noted, AI can combine info in unusual ways to come up with answers that are completely invalid. A "subcortical lesion" could be interpreted by AI to be the same as a stroke in an elderly person. That's not even close to the microscopic hyperintensities that show up as tiny spots on an MRI, and signal some changes in the tiny blood vessels we all have. From what I have learned, most people with hyper-intensities are unaware of them because they don't cause cognitive or functional changes and, like you, only learn of them if they happen to have an MRI.

Please know that you have a resilient brain, that has been coping with migraines for 30 years. My mom did also, and worked as an executive secretary to her early 60's and lived to 86. You may find that once you get through menopause, you'll find your 50's to be a decade in which you feel confident about life and your ability to live a much better and happier life than the AI will ever experience.
Nancy