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The effect of an APOE polymorphism on cognitive function depends on age

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Abstract

It remains controversial whether APOE E4 polymorphism is related to cognitive function in general population. We aimed to evaluate an association between the APOE E4 genotype and cognitive function, and whether this association may differ by age. Cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version of modified Mini-Mental State Examination (K-mMMSE) in 10,371 Koreans aged 45–74 years in Namwon City. According to the APOE E4 status, all participants were classified as non-carriers, heterozygotes, or homozygotes. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between APOE genotypes and cognition. The frequency of APOE genotypes in the study population was 0.4, 10.1, 1.1, 72.9, 14.7 and 0.8 % for E2E2, E2E3, E2E4, E3E3, E3E4, and E4E4, respectively. Compared to the APOE E4 non-carriers, the heterozygotes and homozygotes showed 1.3 and 7.3 % lower K-mMMSE scores at 65–74 years and 0.8 and 4.6 % higher scores at 45–55 years, respectively. Educational attainment modified the effect of APOE E4 on cognitive function in the 45–54 age group (p for interaction =0.003), showing that the E4 carriers with no-formal education showed significantly higher cognitive function than those with formal education. The present study demonstrates that the effect of APOE E4 on cognitive function depends on age and education.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was supported by the Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University, and the Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital.

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Nothing to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

    Min-Ho Shin, Sun-Seog Kweon, Jin-Su Choi & Hye-Rim Song

  2. Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea

    Sun-Seog Kweon

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea

    Young-Hoon Lee

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University Medical School, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Hae-Sung Nam

  5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University College of Medicine, Namwon, Republic of Korea

    Kyeong-Soo Park

  6. Genome Research Center for Hematopoietic Diseases, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Republic of Korea

    Hee N. Kim

  7. Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

    Byeong C. Kim & Seong-Min Choi

  8. Department of Neurology, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine Chonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, San 2-20, Geumam-dong, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, 561-180, Republic of Korea

    Sun-Young Oh & Seul-Ki Jeong

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  1. Min-Ho Shin
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Correspondence to Seul-Ki Jeong.

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Shin, MH., Kweon, SS., Choi, JS. et al. The effect of an APOE polymorphism on cognitive function depends on age. J Neurol 261, 66–72 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-7157-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-013-7157-y

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