ABCA7 and Alzheimer disease: ABCA7 has a role in phagocytosis of cytotoxic or antigenic molecules released from cells during apoptosis to maintain tissue homeostasis.4Although the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, it can be predicted that failure to clear phagocytes in apoptotic cells may cause inflammation and thus AD.38Studies on the functional role of ABCA7 in AD development show that ABCA7 modulates APP processing.