Association between apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele and apathy in probable Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
There have been inconclusive results to date on the association between the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated whether ApoE epsilon4 allele is associated with NPS in probable AD.


METHODS
Data for 197 subjects with probable AD were analysed. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory was used to evaluate the frequency and severity of NPS. Multiple logistic regression models were used to test the association between ApoE genotype and NPS in AD.


RESULTS
The ApoE epsilon3/3 genotype was present in 52.3%, epsilon3/4 in 44.1%, and epsilon4/4 in 3.6% of patients. ApoE epsilon4 carriers showed a higher frequency of apathy than non-carriers. After multiple adjustments, the ApoE epsilon4 allele was significantly associated with apathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a relationship between the ApoE epsilon4 allele and apathy in patients with AD.
Monastero
R
R
Laboratory of Epidemiology and Psychology of Aging and Dementia, Section of Neurology and Psychiatry, DiNOOP, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. monastero@neuro.unipa.it
Mariani
E
E
Camarda
C
C
Ingegni
T
T
Averna
M R
MR
Senin
U
U
Camarda
R
R
Mecocci
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E