title: Influence of APOE status on lexical-semantic skills in mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: This study characterized the relationship between apolipoprotein E (APOE) status and residual semantic abilities in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). APOE status (ε4 carrier/non ε4 carrier) was determined in 30 amnestic MCIs and in 22 healthy matched non ε4 carrier controls. The lexical characteristics (age of acquisition, typicality, familiarity) of words produced in a category fluency task were determined. MCIs produced fewer words than controls and these were also earlier acquired and more familiar. The words produced by MCI ε4 carriers were earlier acquired than those of non ε4 carriers. Analyses limited to the first 10 words produced by patients and controls showed similar findings and also revealed that MCI subgroups retrieved first more typical words than controls. Follow up showed higher conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in MCI ε4 carriers than in non ε4 carriers. These findings show that a significant proportion of phenotype variability in performance on category fluency in people at increased AD risk is influenced by genetic factors. These findings explain why category fluency deficits, together with episodic memory deficits, are the only consistent early deficits in MCI patients who convert to AD.
authors.affiliation: 1Clinical Neuroscience Centre, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biundo
authors.affiliation: 1Clinical Neuroscience Centre, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardini
authors.affiliation: 1Clinical Neuroscience Centre, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caffarra
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Concari
authors.affiliation: 3Molecular Genetics Unit, Parma University-Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martorana
authors.affiliation: 3Molecular Genetics Unit, Parma University-Hospital, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tauro Maria
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: 1Clinical Neuroscience Centre, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.affiliation: 1Clinical Neuroscience Centre, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Annalena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venneri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012660:Semantics; D014706:Verbal Learning
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E