title: Lack of association between apolipoprotein E genotypes and cognitive performance in the non-demented elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ε4 alelle of the apolipoprotein E gene is known to be a key genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and possibly for other neurological disorders. Some evidence in the literature indicates that the ε4 allele interferes with human cognition independently of chronological age and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The present study investigated the correlation of allelic variants of apolipoprotein E with the cognitive performance of elderly individuals without apparent cognitive impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional analysis that included 213 non-demented elderly individuals (age ≥60 years) from the Brazilian Federal District. The analysis assessed the subjects for cognitive domains including short- and long-term episodic memory, processing speed, and attention and executive functions. Sociodemographic and other clinical characteristics were gathered and analyzed as covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Being sufficiently powered, the present study did not identify differential performance across apolipoprotein E genotypes. There was no influence of age, gender, marital status, schooling, depressive symptoms or use of central nervous system depressants when the analyses were controlled for such factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the ε4 allele does not contribute to detectable cognitive decline within the context of non-dementia.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Medical Centre, Hospital of the University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil; Graduation Program in Medical Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Lima
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Quintas
authors.forename: Vinícius Carolino
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Adriane Dallanora
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: Wilcelly
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Machado-Silva
authors.forename: Juliana Oliveira
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Cláudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Córdova
authors.forename: Clayton Franco
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Einstein Francisco
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Camargos
authors.forename: Otávio Toledo
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001938:Brazil; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E
keywords: age-associated memory problems; apolipoprotein; cognitive functioning; genetics; neuropsychology