title: APOE and risk of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The APOE gene polymorphism and the -491 A/T polymorphism in its regulatory region have been associated with an increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. We examined these polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, to determine if a genetic predisposition may explain the risk for developing cognitive decline in MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS patients underwent to a full neuropsychological battery as well as to determination of APOE and -491 A/T polymorphisms. Genetic analysis was also performed in 107 population controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The APOE polymorphism was not associated with the risk of cognitive impairment in MS patients. The AA genotype of the -491 A/T polymorphism in the APOE regulatory region was more frequent in cognitively impaired than in cognitively preserved MS subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AA homozygous state of the -491 A/T polymorphism of the APOE regulatory region is associated with cognitive impairment in patients with MS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Oliveri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cittadella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sibilia
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aguglia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zappia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quattrone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E