Apolipoprotein e genotypes: relationship to cognitive functioning, cognitive decline, and survival in nonagenarians
Lise Bathum1, Lene Christiansen, Bernard Jeune
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. L.Bathum@ouh.fyns-amt.dk
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|May 12, 2006
Summary
Apolipoprotein E genotype has minimal impact on cognitive function and survival in very old adults. The epsilon4 allele, a risk factor, did not significantly affect cognitive decline or longevity in nonagenarians.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Gerontology
Background:
- The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype is linked to cognitive function and survival in mid-adulthood.
- The persistence of these associations into advanced old age remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of ApoE genotypes on cognitive performance and survival in nonagenarians.
- To determine if ApoE epsilon4 allele influences cognitive decline and longevity in advanced old age.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1,551 nonagenarians from the Danish 1905 birth cohort was studied.
- Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a cognitive composite.
- Apolipoprotein E genotypes were analyzed, stratifying participants by epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 alleles.
Main Results:
- Individuals with the ApoE epsilon4 allele showed a trend towards slightly lower baseline MMSE scores and faster cognitive decline, but these effects were not statistically significant.
- No significant impact of ApoE genotype on survival was observed.
- In well-functioning nonagenarians, the frequency of the epsilon4 allele tended to decrease over time.
Conclusions:
- ApoE genotype exerts a minor influence on the likelihood of remaining cognitively well-functioning in advanced old age.
- No distinct effect of ApoE genotype on cognitive functioning, cognitive decline, or survival was detected in this nonagenarian cohort.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:23Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...