title: Apolipoprotein E alleles in Cuban patients with mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 genotype is the most clearly documented risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Epidemiological studies demonstrate an accelerated rate of progression to dementia and AD in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We assessed the ApoE allele and genotypes frequencies in Cuban patients with MCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed ApoE genotyping of 74 Cuban patients more than 65 years old. Cognitive assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a cognitive battery for evaluating memory, attention, perception, and executive function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cognitive impairments were characterized by amnesia and executive deficits in patients with MCI. The Apo ε4 allele frequency was 0.196 in patients with MCI, 10-fold higher than that in the controls. Patients carrying the ε4 allele exhibited poorer performance in MMSE and tests assessing executive function and short-term memory than noncarriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients exhibited amnestic MCI multiple domains. Cognitive performance was worse in patients who carried the ApoE ε4 allele.
authors.affiliation: 1Molecular Biology Department, Cuban Neurosciences Center, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Viana Manrique
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Yuriem
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Elena del Carmen Ruiz
authors.initials: Edel C
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: David Higginson
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Maria Antonieta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bobes
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Riverón
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: López-Cánovas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; apolipoprotein E; cognitive domain; cognitive impairment; gen polymorphism