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Apolipoprotein E ϵ4 allele in association with global cognitive performance and CSF markers in Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Lasser Robert A.,
Dukoff Ruth,
Levy James,
Levin Robert,
Lehtimäki Tehro,
Seubert Peter,
Sunderland Trey
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(1998110)13:11<767::aid-gps866>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - apolipoprotein e , medicine , allele , alzheimer's disease , analysis of variance , psychology , cognition , age of onset , cognitive decline , disease , gastroenterology , dementia , psychiatry , biology , genetics , gene
Abstract To better define the influence of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ϵ4 genotype on the cognitive and biochemical features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), cross‐sectional analysis of global cognitive measures and cerebrospinal fluid studies gathered on AD subjects at a tertiary care facility between 1986 and 1997 was carried out. The 112 AD patients examined included 62 women and 50 men with a mean (SD) age of 64·2 (9·2) years. Patient demographics, illness onset age and duration, education level and global cognitive measures were recorded systematically. Genetic analysis for ApoE allele type and biochemical characterization of CSF, including total tau concentration, was performed. Descriptive statistics of demographics, cognitive and CSF measures were performed by chi‐square, ANOVA and Tukey's tests. Overrepresentation of the ϵ4 allele was found, with 45·5% of AD patients heterozygous and 20·5% homozygous for ApoE ϵ4. Overall, ApoE ϵ4 status had no effect on mean onset age of AD ( F =1·56; p =0·214), but an earlier mean onset age of AD ( F =4·10; p =0·02) was seen in the late‐onset subjects. No differences were found with regard to ApoE ϵ4 status and measures of disease, duration of illness or global cognitive performance. Although CSF tau was elevated in our sample (575·4±290·3 pg/ml), ApoE ϵ4 status did not influence total CSF tau or neurotransmitter metabolite levels. ApoE ϵ4 genotype had no impact on a variety of illness severity, cognitive and CSF examinations in the largest cross‐sectional analysis of AD subjects yet reported. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.