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APOE and risk of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis
R L Oliveri1, R Cittadella, G Sibilia
1Institute of Neurology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Italy.
Objectives:
The APOE gene polymorphism and the -491 A/T polymorphism in its regulatory region have been associated with an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. We examined these polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, to determine if a genetic predisposition may explain the risk for developing cognitive decline in MS.
Material And Methods:
Eighty-nine relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS patients underwent to a full neuropsychological battery as well as to determination of APOE and -491 A/T polymorphisms. Genetic analysis was also performed in 107 population controls.
Results:
The APOE polymorphism was not associated with the risk of cognitive impairment in MS patients. The AA genotype of the -491 A/T polymorphism in the APOE regulatory region was more frequent in cognitively impaired than in cognitively preserved MS subjects.
Conclusion:
The AA homozygous state of the -491 A/T polymorphism of the APOE regulatory region is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with MS.