title: APOE genotype is associated with left-handedness and visuospatial skills in children.
abstract: We sought to investigate whether apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is associated with unique profiles of cognitive functioning during early-life. School-aged children (N=147) received standardized achievement tests, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (Copy Condition; RCFT-CC), assessment of hand dominance for writing, and buccal swab testing to determine their APOE genotype. Significant differences were found on the RCFT-CC, with epsilon 2-positive children performing worse on this measure relative to both epsilon 3/3 (p=0.032) and epsilon 4-positive children (p=0.018). Further, a higher prevalence of left-hand dominance for writing was observed among epsilon 2-positive children (29.2%) relative to epsilon 3/3 (8.9%) and epsilon 4-positive children (6.1%; p=0.012), although this finding did not account for the observed group differences on the RCFT-CC. Findings raise the possibility that in childhood, the epsilon 2 allele may be associated with: (a) decreased functioning in certain cognitive domains; (b) factors associated with atypical hemispheric dominance. Results may be consistent with the theory of antagonistic pleiotropy, which suggests that APOE may have different protective effects at different developmental stages.
authors.affiliation: SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92120-4913, USA. cbloss@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Cinnamon S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Bloss
authors.forename: Dean C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Delis
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bondi
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018579:Patient Selection; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E