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The relationship between apolipoprotein E, dementia, and vascular illness
D B Marin1, B Breuer, M L Marin
1Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. deborah.marin@doc.mssm.edu
Atherosclerosis
|September 11, 1998
Summary
The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele is linked to Alzheimer's and vascular dementia in the elderly. However, APOE epsilon4 showed no strong association with vascular diseases like heart disease or stroke in individuals without dementia.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is implicated in various neurological conditions.
- Understanding APOE's role in age-related cognitive decline and vascular health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between APOE genotypes and dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia) in the very old.
- To examine the relationship of APOE with vascular illnesses (atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, stroke) independent of dementia.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of 959 elderly individuals (mean age 85) residing in a long-term care facility.
- Cognitive assessment using the Mini Mental State Exam.
- Analysis of APOE association with dementia diagnoses and vascular conditions in 450 eligible participants.
Main Results:
- APOE epsilon4 allele was significantly more prevalent in patients with Alzheimer's disease (22%) and vascular dementia (26%) compared to controls (7%).
- No robust association was found between APOE epsilon4 and vascular diseases (atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, stroke) in individuals without dementia.
- The APOE epsilon3 allele was more common in men with atherosclerotic heart disease.
Conclusions:
- APOE epsilon4 is a risk factor for dementia, including Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, in the elderly population.
- The association of APOE epsilon4 with vascular disease is less pronounced when dementia is absent.