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Smoking, APOE Genotype, and Cognitive Decline: The Rotterdam Study
Robin Wingbermühle1, Ke-Xin Wen1, Frank J Wolters1,2
1Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|March 18, 2017
Summary
Current smoking is linked to cognitive decline in older adults. This association was observed across global cognition and specific cognitive tests, regardless of APOEɛ4 genotype status.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
Background:
- The relationship between smoking and cognitive decline, particularly in preclinical stages, requires further clarification.
- The potential modifying role of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (APOEɛ4) genotype on this association is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between current smoking and cognitive decline over a 5.5-year period in a population-based cohort.
- To examine whether the APOEɛ4 genotype modifies the relationship between smoking and cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 5,705 participants in the population-based Rotterdam Study (mean age 63.9 years, 57.4% women).
- Assessed cognitive function using measures of global cognition and specific tests (Letter Digit Substitution Task, 15-Word Learning Test, Purdue Pegboard).
- Analyzed the association between smoking status and cognitive decline, with stratification by APOEɛ4 genotype.
Main Results:
- Current smoking was significantly associated with a decline in global cognitive function (difference vs. never smoking: -0.06; 95% C.I. -0.10 to -0.01).
- Smoking was also linked to decline in performance on the Letter Digit Substitution Task, 15-Word Learning Test, and Purdue Pegboard.
- No significant evidence of effect modification by APOEɛ4 genotype was found on the smoking-cognition relationship.
Conclusions:
- Current smoking is associated with preclinical cognitive decline in older adults.
- The detrimental effect of smoking on cognition does not appear to be significantly influenced by APOEɛ4 genotype status in this cohort.
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