title: Apolipoprotein E and cognitive performance: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and may also affect cognitive performance in normal aging. Evidence of the presence and magnitude of epsilon4-related cognitive deficits was examined with a meta-analysis of the available literature. Thirty-eight studies were included, and cognitive performance was collapsed into 8 domains. Results indicated significant APOE-epsilon4 group differences for global cognitive functioning, episodic memory, and executive functioning, in favor of non-epsilon4 carriers. In addition, older age and APOE-epsilon4 heterozygosity was associated with smaller epsilon4-related impairments. The meta-analysis results suggest that APOE-epsilon4 genotype does affect cognitive performance in healthy aging, although the influence is relatively small and specific to certain domains of cognitive performance.
authors.affiliation: School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. bsmall@cas.usf.edu
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Rosnick
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fratiglioni
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäckman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E