Apolipoprotein e4 allele and cognitive decline in elderly men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether polymorphism of apolipoprotein E--notably, the e4 allele--predicts cognitive deterioration in the general population.


METHODS
Population based cohort investigated in 1990 and in 1993.


METHODS
Zutphen, the Netherlands.


METHODS
Representative cohort of 538 Dutch men aged 70-89 at baseline.


METHODS
Cognitive function assessed by mini mental state examination, change in cognitive function and incidence of impaired cognitive function at three years.


RESULTS
The baseline prevalence of impaired cognitive function (mini mental state examination score < or = 25) was higher among carriers of the e4 allele compared with men without the allele (41.0% (55) v 31.1% (122) P = 0.03), and this result was still valid after adjustment for age, occupation, smoking, alcohol use, and cardiovascular diseases. The decline in cognitive function at three years was largest in men homozygous for e4 (-2.4 points), intermediate in those heterozygous for e4 (-0.7 points), and lowest in men without e4 (-0.1 points), and it was independent of other risk factors (P = 0.02). The risk of developing impaired cognitive function during follow up was significantly increased in allele carriers compared with non-carriers (27.6% (16/58) v 15.5% (32/207)). The adjusted odds ratio was 2.87 (95% confidence interval 1.29 to 6.42). Twenty two per cent of the risk of developing impaired cognitive function in this population may be attributable to the e4 allele.


CONCLUSIONS
The apolipoprotein e4 allele predisposes to cognitive decline in a general population of elderly men.
Feskens
E J
EJ
Department of Chronic Diseases and Environmental Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, Netherlands.
Havekes
L M
LM
Kalmijn
S
S
de Knijff
P
P
Launer
L J
LJ
Kromhout
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E