Apolipoprotein E was discovered by Robert Mahley.
"And of course, Professor Robert Mahley discovered this decades ago, and it has turned out to be the most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease." (said at 0:14:22)
The statement requires minor historical context regarding discovery, but is accurate regarding the role of APOE in Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein E was first identified in human plasma lipoproteins in 1973 by Bernard and Virgie Shore as the 'arginine-rich apoprotein.' Robert W. Mahley and colleagues subsequently played a foundational role in isolating, characterizing, naming, and elucidating the structural and receptor-binding functions of apolipoprotein E across several decades. As stated, APOE (specifically the ε4 allele) has been firmly established as the most prominent genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
- context: Apolipoprotein E: from cardiovascular disease to neurodegenerative disorders. (Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) 2016)
"Apolipoprotein (apo) E was initially described as a lipid transport protein and major ligand for low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors with a role in cholesterol metabolism and cardiovascular disease. It has since emerged as a major risk factor (causative gene) for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders." (abstract, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)