title: Effect of plasma lipids and APOE genotype on cognitive decline.
abstract: A central tenet of brain aging is that "what is good for the heart is good for the brain." We examined the combined effect of plasma lipids and APOE genotype on cognitive function in elderly individuals. Plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and apolipoprotein E (apoE) were evaluated in 622 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older. We investigated the associations between plasma lipids and cognitive function in APOE4 carrier (E4+) and APOE4 noncarrier (E4-) groups using 3-year longitudinal data. At baseline and 3 years later, cognitive scores were correlated with plasma apoE levels in both E4- and E4+, and HDL level in E4-. Our findings suggest that an interaction between apoE and HDL is facilitated by APOE4, and is possibly linked with an enhancement of neuroplasticity and with resultant protective effects on cognitive function in later life. Preservation of higher plasma apoE and HDL from early life is proposed as a possible strategy for maintaining cognitive function in later life, especially for APOE4-positive individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yasuno
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asada
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: APOE genotype; apolipoprotein E; cognitive decline; high-density lipoprotein; low-density lipoprotein; total cholesterol; triglyceride