The apolipoprotein E ε4 allele was associated with lower baseline cognitive performance (p=0.02), but this effect disappeared after adjustment for education, with no difference in cognitive decline.
Cohort (n=600)
No
Does the apoE ε4 allele affect cognitive performance over time in non-demented elderly subjects?
The apoE ε4 allele is associated with lower baseline cognitive performance in non-demented elderly subjects, but this effect disappears after adjusting for education, and cognitive performance remains stable over time regardless of apoE phenotype.
Background: The apolipoprotein E (apoE) ε4 allele has been shown to be a risk factor for dementia, but it is not clear to what extent apoE affects overall cognitive function in non-demented elderly subjects, or how this risk may be modified by gene–environment interactions. Objective: To examine changes in cognitive function in elderly people as a function of the apoE ε4 phenotype. Methods: A community based prospective cohort study of 600 non-demented subjects aged over 65 years living in Gironde (France) was analysed to evaluate change over time (seven years) in scores on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Results: Age at cohort inception was negatively associated with cognitive performance for both ε4 carriers and non-carriers (p Conclusions: apoE ε4 carriers show decreased MMSE scores compared with ε4 non-carriers, but the effect of apoE on cognition disappears after adjustment for education. Non-demented elderly people maintain a stable cognitive performance regardless of their apoE phenotype.
María Winnock (Sat,) conducted a cohort in Cognitive performance in non-demented elderly (n=600). Apolipoprotein E ε4 allele vs. ε4 non-carriers was evaluated on Change over time in scores on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). The apolipoprotein E ε4 allele was associated with lower baseline cognitive performance (p=0.02), but this effect disappeared after adjustment for education, with no difference in cognitive decline.