Interaction of APOE genotype and testosterone on episodic memory in middle-aged men.
Age-related changes in testosterone are believed to be a key component of the processes that contribute to cognitive aging in men. The APOE-ε4 allele may interact with testosterone and moderate the hormone's association with cognition. The goals of the present study were to examine the degree to which free testosterone is associated with episodic memory in a community-based sample of middle-aged men, and examine the potential interaction between free testosterone and the APOE-ε4 allele. Data were used from 717 participants in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Average age was 55.4 years (standard deviation = 2.5). Significant positive associations were observed between free testosterone level and verbal episodic memory, as well as a significant interaction between free testosterone and APOE-ε4 status. In ε4 carriers free testosterone was positively associated with verbal episodic memory performance (story recall), whereas no association was observed in ε4 noncarriers. Results support the hypothesis that APOE-ε4 status increases susceptibility to other risk factors, such as low testosterone, which may ultimately contribute to cognitive decline or dementia.
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. Electronic address: mspanizz@ucsd.edu.
Matthew S
MS
Panizzon
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, CA, USA; Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
Richard
R
Hauger
Department of Biostatistics, St. Louis University, College for Public Health & Social Justice, St. Louis, MO, USA; Research Service, St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St. Louis, MO.
Hong
H
Xian
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Eero
E
Vuoksimaa
Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
Kelly M
KM
Spoon
Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Sally P
SP
Mendoza
Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Kristen C
KC
Jacobson
Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Terrie
T
Vasilopoulos
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Brinda K
BK
Rana
Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Ruth
R
McKenzie
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Miriam Hospital and Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Jeanne M
JM
McCaffery
Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Michael J
MJ
Lyons
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, CA, USA; Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
William S
WS
Kremen
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Twin Research Laboratory, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
Carol E
CE
Franz
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D003704:Dementia / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D013739:Testosterone
APOE; Episodic memory; Gene-hormone interaction; Middle-age; Testosterone