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Apolipoprotein E, cognitive function, and cognitive decline among older Taiwanese adults
Megan Todd1, Lisa Schneper2, Sarinnapha M Vasunilashorn3
1Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 20, 2018
Summary
The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is linked to faster cognitive decline in older Taiwanese adults. This finding highlights APOE
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is implicated in dementia risk.
- Limited data exists on APOE's role in non-pathological cognitive aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate APOE genotype as a risk factor for age-related cognitive decline in older Taiwanese adults.
- To examine the association between APOE and domain-specific cognitive functions.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal assessment of general cognition over eleven years.
- Cross-sectional, domain-specific cognitive tests (working memory, declarative learning, attention).
- Analysis of nationally representative Taiwanese data.
Main Results:
- Individuals with at least one risky APOE allele showed accelerated longitudinal cognitive decline.
- Cross-sectional data suggested a stronger association between APOE genotype and working memory/declarative learning than attention.
- Findings confirmed APOE's association with cognitive decline in a Han Chinese population.
Conclusions:
- APOE genotype is a significant factor in the rate of cognitive decline in older Taiwanese adults.
- The study extends previous findings to a non-European population, emphasizing the need for diverse genetic research in cognition.
- APOE's impact may be more pronounced on specific cognitive domains like memory and learning.
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