title: Interaction between C-reactive protein and cognitive functions according to APOE gene polymorphism in post-menopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A potential factor increasing the risk of the development of cognitive impairment with age is apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carrier status. A subsequent factor which may increase the risk of development of cognitive impairment at an older age is the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP). The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between cognitive functions and the concentration of CRP in post-menopausal women who were carriers of particular apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) polymorphisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 402 women was recruited to the study. The inclusion criteria were: minimum two years after the last menstruation, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration 30 U/ml, no dementi signs on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The computerized battery of the Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNS VS) test was used to diagnose cognitive functions. APOE genotyping was performed by multiplex PCR. The blood plasma CRP levels were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of neurocognitive index (NCI) and cognitive functions in post-menopausal women depends on apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism (p< 0.001) and the concentration of CRP (p< 0.05). A negative correlation was found between CRP and NCI (p= 0.018), and the reaction time (p= 0.008) of women with APOE ε2/ε3. A positive correlation was observed between CRP and visual memory (p= 0.025) in women with APOE ε3/ε3, and verbal memory (p= 0.023) in women with APOE ε3/ε4 or ε4/ε4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism may modify the relationship between CRP concentration and cognitive functions in post-menopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department for Women Health, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bojar
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gujski
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinkas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Statistics and Demography, School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raczkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Center for Public Health and Health Promotion, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Owoc
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Rehabilitation of Speech, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Humeniuk
keywords: C-reactive protein; apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms; cognition functions; menopause