Apolipoprotein E genotype and cognitive impairment in community-dwelling black older adults.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE-epsilon4) located on chromosome 19 and Alzheimer's disease is well documented among Caucasian populations. However, the findings of research addressing the link between APOE polymorphism and neurocognitive functioning in populations of African origin from around the world have been equivocal. Therefore, the current study explored the relation of APOE-epsilon4 with cognitive impairment in a sample of community-dwelling English-speaking elderly blacks.


METHODS
All participants (N = 57) were recruited consecutively from a community memory-screening program at a University affiliated Memory Disorders Clinic and evaluated using standardized assessment procedures. Cognitive impairment was classified according to an age and education adjusted Mini-Mental State Exam score of less than 24 as well as poorer functioning on a measure of delayed verbal memory.


RESULTS
Increased risk for global cognitive dysfunction (OR = 9.5, 95 percent CI = 2.3-55.3, p = .004) and poorer verbal recall performance (beta = -.36, p = .006) were linked with the APOE epsilon4 allele after controlling for the potentially confounding effects of age, education, and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation supports the role of APOE polymorphism in determining neurocognitive impairment among black elders residing in the community.
Harwood
Dylan G
DG
University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, USA.
Barker
Warren W
WW
Ownby
Raymond L
RL
Mullan
Michael
M
Duara
Ranjan
R
D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D044383:Black People; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000941:ethics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D001741:Black or African American
D001057:Apolipoproteins E