Multiple sclerosis and cognitive decline: is ApoE-4 a surrogate marker?
O Carmona1, C Masuet, O Santiago
1Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. occodina@gmail.com
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|January 7, 2011
Summary
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-4 does not predict cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Cognitive impairment in MS is common, but not linked to ApoE-4 or disability progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Immunology
Background:
- The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
- Its specific role in multiple sclerosis (MS) cognitive function remains largely undetermined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if ApoE-4 serves as a marker for cognitive decline in MS patients.
- To identify cognitive impairment in interferon-beta treated, mildly disabled MS patients.
- To correlate cognitive disturbances with clinical variables in MS.
Main Methods:
- Fifty relapsing-remitting MS patients underwent neuropsychological testing and ApoE genotyping.
- Patient performance was compared against 35 healthy controls.
- Statistical analyses examined associations between ApoE genotype, cognitive scores, and clinical data.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between the ApoE-4 genotype and cognitive impairment in MS patients.
- MS patients exhibited significant cognitive deficits across multiple domains compared to controls.
- Cognitive decline did not correlate with the progression of disability.
Conclusions:
- The ApoE-4 genotype is not associated with cognitive impairment or clinical markers in this cohort of MS patients.
- Cognitive impairment is prevalent in mildly disabled MS patients treated with interferon-beta, independent of ApoE genotype.
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