Title
Plasma levels of apolipoprotein E and cognitive function in old age
Author
Mooijaart, S.P.
van Vliet, P.
van Heemst, D.
Rensen, P.C.N.
Berbée, J.F.P.
Jolles, J.
de Craen, A.J.M.
Westendorp, R.G.J.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Contributor
Rattan, S.I.S. (editor)
Akman, S. (editor)
Publication year
2007
Abstract
The relationship between structural variants of the apolipoprotein E gene, APOE ε2/ε3/ε4, and dementia is well established, whereas the relationship of plasma apoE levels with dementia is less clear. Plasma apoE levels are under tight genetic control but vary widely within the various genotypes indicating that the APOE ε2/ε3/ε4 locus explains only a small fraction of this variation. Here we studied the association of plasma apolipoprotein E (apoE) levels with cognitive function in the elderly population at large. Within the Leiden 85-plus Study, a prospective population-based study of subjects aged 85 years, we measured plasma apoE level and genotype at base line. During a 5-year follow-up period, cognitive function was annually assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a standardized neuropsychological test battery. Among ε3ε3 carriers (n = 324), high plasma apoE levels associated with impaired global cognitive function (-1.10 points change in MMSE score per one standard deviation increase of plasma apoE level, P = 0.001), as well as lower attention (P = 0.064), speed and memory function (all P < 0.05). Adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and exclusion of all subjects who suffered a stroke did not materially change the associations. Similar estimates were obtained in ε3ε4 carriers (n = 100), but not in ε2ε3 carriers (n = 90). We conclude that in old age, in non-ε2-allele carriers, high plasma apoE levels are associated with cognitive impairments, independent of genotype, cardiovascular risk factors, and stroke. © 2007 New York Academy of Sciences.
Subject
Biology
Biomedical Research
Dementia
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Apolipoproteins E
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Cholesterol
Cognition Disorders
Dementia
Female
Genotype
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Risk Factors
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:bf2c7669-c1db-4e6c-8b24-ee9c6b89aba0
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1395.013
TNO identifier
239907
ISBN
1573316792
ISSN
0077-8923
Source
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1100, 148-161
Document type
bookPart