Impairment, Disability and Handicap as Risk Factors for Depression in Old Age

As part of in investigation of dementia epidemiology (the MRC Cognitive Function and Ageing Study), APOE genotype was studied amongst 64 umdected subjects with recent onset of cognitive impairment identified prospectivety over a two year period. Fifty eight subjects who had remained cognitivefy intact over the same period were also available for study. APOE genotype was ascertained by means of standard PCR techniques from specimens of buccal epithelial cells obtained by an oral nnse procedure. For the purpose of analysis, subjects were grouped on the basis of MMSE scores as cognitivery intact (>25), borderline impaired (19-24) and definitely impaired (<19). The mean ages of the intact (77) and impaired groups (82) were significantly different (pO.Ol). The mean age of those subjects with the s4sx genotype ( 77 years) was significantly lower (pO.OJ) than the mean age of subjects without the E4 allele (80 years). The distribution of the APOE genotypes is shown in the table: