Depressive symptoms moderate the influence of the apolipoproteine epsilon4 allele on cognitive decline in a sample of community dwelling older adults.
OBJECTIVE
The apolipoproteinE epsilon4 (APOE epsilon4) allele and a history of depression are each separate risk factors for cognitive decline (CD). However, little research has investigated whether a history of depression influences the relationship between APOE epsilon4 and CD. The present study examined whether depressive symptoms had greater influence on subsequent CD among participants with APOE epsilon4 than those without the allele.


METHODS
Prospective 6-year longitudinal study.


METHODS
Community in-home interviews.


METHODS
A biracial sample of community dwelling older adults (N = 1,992) from the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE).


METHODS
Data were drawn from Waves 1 to 3 of the EPESE, which were conducted 6 years apart. Cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms were assessed at both waves, and APOE genotyping was completed during the Wave 3 assessment.


RESULTS
Regression analyses revealed that depressive symptoms and the APOE epsilon4 allele independently predicted CD. Importantly, the influence of depressive symptoms on CD was greater for individuals with the APOE epsilon4 allele compared with those without the allele.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms and the APOE epsilon4 allele are independent contributors to CD. Moreover, the influence of depressive symptoms on CD is greater among individuals with the APOE epsilon4 allele. Depression and the APOE epsilon4 allele may act together in disrupting neurological functioning, which may in turn lower an individual's cognitive reserve capacity. Given the efficacious treatments currently available for depression, future research should investigate the extent to which interventions for depression may reduce the risk for subsequent CD.
Corsentino
Elizabeth A
EA
Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
Sawyer
Kathryn
K
Sachs-Ericsson
Natalie
N
Blazer
Dan G
DG
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003625:Data Collection; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4