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APOE ε4 and cognitive function in early life: a meta-analysis.
Andreas Ihle1, David Bunce, Matthias Kliegel
1Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden.
Neuropsychology
|February 15, 2012
Summary
The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele does not show cognitive benefits in children, adolescents, or young adults. This meta-analysis found no link between the APOE ε4 allele and cognitive performance in youth.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease in older adults.
- Conversely, some studies suggest cognitive advantages in young ε4 carriers.
- This raises the possibility of pleiotropic effects of the ε4 allele on cognition across the lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively review studies on APOE-cognition associations in children, adolescents, and young adults.
- To examine APOE ε4-related differences in cognitive performance in younger populations.
- To assess if executive task demands moderate the APOE-cognition relationship.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was conducted on 20 studies.
- Cognitive performance of young ε4 carriers was compared to non-ε4 counterparts.
- The influence of executive task demands on the APOE-cognition association was evaluated.
Main Results:
- No significant APOE ε4-related cognitive benefits were found in young individuals.
- Effect sizes for APOE ε4-related cognitive differences did not reliably differ from zero.
- The level of executive demands did not moderate the association between the APOE ε4 allele and cognitive measures.
Conclusions:
- Current empirical evidence does not support APOE ε4-related cognitive benefits in youth.
- Findings suggest caution regarding theories of pleiotropic effects of APOE ε4 on cognition across the lifespan.
- The APOE ε4 allele's impact on cognition appears not to be moderated by executive task demands in younger populations.
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