Int J Geriatr
Psychiatry. 2004 Dec;19(12):1131-9.
No association between
subjective memory complaints and apolipoprotein E
genotype in cognitively intact elderly.
Harwood DG, Barker WW, Ownby
RL, Mullan
M, Duara
R.
Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, Department
of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David
Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between
subjective memory complaints and the apolipoprotein
epsilon 4 allele (epsilon4), a genetic risk factor for
Alzheimer's disease (AD), among cognitively normal subjects identified from a
community memory screening. DESIGN: The sample comprised 232 consecutive
white non-Hispanic older adults who presented to a free community-based
memory-screening program at a University affiliated memory disorders center.
Participants were classified as cognitively normal based on scores on the age
and educated adjusted Folstein Mini-Mental Status
Exam (MMSAdj) and a brief Delayed Verbal Recall Test
(DRT). Subjects were assessed for APOE genotype, subjective memory complaints
(Memory Questionnaire, MQ), depressive symptoms (Hamilton Depression Rating
Scale, HDRS), and history of four major medical conditions that have been
associated with memory loss (stroke/transient ischemic attack [TIA],
atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes). A hierarchical
regression analysis was performed to examine the association between APOE
genotype and memory complaints after controlling for a host of potential
confounding factors. RESULTS: The APOE epsilon4 allele frequency for
cognitively normal subjects was 0.13. Subjective memory complaints were
predicted by depressive symptoms and a history of stroke/TIA. They were not
associated with APOE genotype, MMSAdj score, DRT
score, age, education, gender, and reported history of atherosclerotic heart
disease, hypertension, or diabetes. CONCLUSION: The results did not suggest an
association between subjective memory complaints and the APOE epsilon4 allele
in this sample of cognitively intact subjects. This indicates that memory
complaints may confer risk for future dementia through pathways independent of
APOE genotype. The results also show that older adults with memory complaints
are at increased risk for underlying depression.
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Keywords: Apolipoprotein, E Genotype, congnition, Geriatric Psychiatry