Sex differences in associations between APOE ε2 and longitudinal cognitive decline
Madeline E Wood1,2, Lisa Y Xiong1,3, Yuen Yan Wong1,3
1Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Summary
The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 gene variant may protect aging men against cognitive decline, but not women, in White populations. This sex-specific effect was not observed in Black populations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cognitive decline is a significant concern in aging populations.
- The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, particularly the ε2 allele, has been linked to cognitive function.
- Sex differences in cognitive aging are increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether sex modifies the association between APOE ε2 genotype and cognitive decline.
- To examine these effects in independent samples of non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) adults.
Main Methods:
- Observational data from cognitively unimpaired NHW and NHB adults were analyzed.
- Linear mixed models assessed the interaction between APOE genotype (ε2 or ε4 carrier vs. ε3/ε3) and sex on cognitive decline.
- Analyses were conducted separately for NHW and NHB participants.
Main Results:
- In NHW participants, sex significantly modified the APOE ε2-cognitive decline association in both samples.
- APOE ε2 protected against cognitive decline in NHW men, but not women, compared to APOE ε3/ε3.
- Among APOE ε2 carriers, NHW men exhibited slower cognitive decline than NHW women.
Conclusions:
- APOE ε2 may confer a protective effect against cognitive decline in men, but not women, within the NHW population.
- No sex-specific associations of APOE ε2 with cognitive decline were found in NHB adults.
- These findings highlight potential sex-based differences in the genetic modulation of cognitive aging.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
557
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...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
557
01:26Longitudinal Studies
194
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
194
02:20Longitudinal Research
12.0K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
12.0K
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
178
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,...
178
01:27Language and Cognition
397
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
397
01:30Biological Influences on Intelligence
163
Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
163