title: Interactions between the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele status and adverse childhood experiences on depressive symptoms in older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of childhood adversity on depression is modulated by genetic vulnerability. The apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE-ε4) allele is a strong genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because late-life depressive symptoms could be a part of the preclinical course of AD, the APOE-ε4 allele may contribute to depression in old age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an APOE-ε4 carrier status was associated with depressive symptoms in older adults and to detect the gene-environment interaction between APOE-ε4 status and childhood adversity in relation to depressive symptoms in old age.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants consisted of 137 older adults (age range 50-70) without any psychiatric history or clinically significant cognitive impairment. APOE genotypes and measures of childhood adversity and depressive symptoms were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant positive association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) scores and depressive symptoms (B=0.60; 95% CI=0.26, 0.93 for a 1 score increase in ACE scores; p=0.001). Although APOE-ε4 status per se was not associated with depressive symptoms, there was a significant interaction of the ACE scores with the APOE genotype in relation to depressive symptoms (B=0.78; 95% CI=0.02, 1.55; p=0.044). There was a significantly higher effect of childhood adversity on depressive symptoms in APOE-ε4 carriers than non-carriers (t=2.13, p=0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the APOE-ε4 may modulate the association between childhood adversity and depressive symptoms in older adults. However, more research in a larger sample is needed to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the APOE-ε4, childhood adversity, and depression.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Subin
authors: S
authors: Park
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Yoon-Young
authors: YY
authors: Nam
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Yoojin
authors: Y
authors: Sim
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; suhurhong@gmail.com.
authors: Jin Pyo
authors: JP
authors: Hong
keywords: APOE-ε4; Depression; childhood adversity; old age
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