Key result
The APOE ε4 allele was significantly associated with reduced physiological complexity in healthy elderly subjects compared to non-carriers (MSE 24.6 vs 28.9, p=0.003).
Why the study?
Does the APOE epsilon4 allele reduce physiological complexity in robust elderly adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=102)
No
Does the APOE epsilon4 allele reduce physiological complexity in robust elderly adults?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
The APOE epsilon4 allele is associated with reduced physiological complexity in healthy elderly adults, suggesting a genetic role in physiological aging.
BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the loss of physiological complexity during the aging process is due to genetic variations. The APOE gene has been studied extensively in regard to its relationship with aging-associated medical illness. We hypothesize that diminished physiological complexity, as measured by heart rate variability, is influenced by polymorphisms in the APOE allele among elderly individuals. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 102 robust, non-demented, elderly subjects with normal functions of daily activities participated in this study (97 males and 5 females, aged 79.2+/-4.4 years, range 72-92 years). Among these individuals, the following two APOE genotypes were represented: epsilon4 non-carriers (n = 87, 85.3%) and epsilon4 carriers (n = 15, 14.7%). Multi-scale entropy (MSE), an analysis used in quantifying complexity for nonlinear time series, was employed to analyze heart-rate dynamics. Reduced physiological complexity, as measured by MSE, was significantly associated with the presence of the APOE epsilon4 allele in healthy elderly subjects, as compared to APOE epsilon4 allele non-carriers (24.6+/-5.5 versus 28.9+/-5.2, F = 9.429, p = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This finding suggests a role for the APOE gene in the diminished physiological complexity seen in elderly populations.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Cheng et al. (2009) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy aging (n=102). APOE ε4 allele vs. APOE ε4 non-carriers was evaluated on Physiological complexity measured by multi-scale entropy (MSE) of heart rate dynamics (p=0.003). The APOE ε4 allele was significantly associated with reduced physiological complexity in healthy elderly subjects compared to non-carriers (MSE 24.6 vs 28.9, p=0.003).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: