The apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele and decline in different cognitive systems during a 6-year period.
BACKGROUND
Impairment of episodic memory is an early and defining feature of Alzheimer disease (AD). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 allele is known to influence risk of AD but it has been difficult to establish whether it affects episodic memory differently from other cognitive functions.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of epsilon 4 with decline in different cognitive systems.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
More than 40 groups of Catholic clergy from across the United States.


METHODS
Older Catholic clergy members without clinical evidence of dementia at baseline underwent annual clinical evaluations for up to 6 years. Of 624 persons eligible for follow-up, 611 (98%) participated, of whom 161 (26%) had at least 1 epsilon 4 allele. They completed an average of 5.5 evaluations (range, 2-7).


METHODS
Incident AD and annual rates of change in episodic memory, semantic memory, working memory, perceptual speed, and visuospatial ability.


RESULTS
The presence of epsilon 4 was associated with risk of developing AD on follow-up (relative risk, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-2.89). In a series of random effects models, epsilon 4 was associated with impaired baseline function in episodic memory and visuospatial ability and with more rapid decline in all domains. The effect of epsilon 4 on annual decline in episodic memory (>3-fold increase) was significantly stronger than its effect on decline in other cognitive systems (P<.01), and at baseline, its effect on episodic memory was marginally stronger than its effect on other cognitive domains (P =.06).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the APOE epsilon 4 allele influences risk of AD by a relatively selective effect on episodic memory.
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, 1645 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 675, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. rwilson@rush.edu
Robert S
RS
Wilson
Julie A
JA
Schneider
Lisa L
LL
Barnes
Laurel A
LA
Beckett
Neelum T
NT
Aggarwal
Elizabeth J
EJ
Cochran
Elizabeth
E
Berry-Kravis
Julie
J
Bach
Jacob H
JH
Fox
Denis A
DA
Evans
David A
DA
Bennett
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States
D001057:Apolipoproteins E