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Apolipoprotein E, Cognitive Function, and Dementia in a General Population Aged 85 Years and Over

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2005

Kati Juva
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Auli Verkkoniemi
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Petteri Viramo
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Science and General Practice, University of Oulu and Unit of General Practice, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
Tuomo Polvikoski
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Katariina Kainulainen
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Kimmo Kontula
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Raimo Sulkava
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health and General Practice and Department of Medicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.

Abstract

We examined 510 subjects representing 83.2% of all citizens of a Finnish city aged 85 years or over. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, diagnosis of dementia by DSM-III-R criteria, and Apo-E genotype were determined. The prevalence of dementia was 38.6%. The odds ratio (OR) of the Apo-E ε4 carriers (with the reference population of people with the genotype ε3/ε3) for dementia was 2.36 (95% CI 1.58–3.58). There was a significant sex difference: The OR in women was 3.23 (95% CI 2.02–5.17) whereas among men it was insignificant. The mean MMSE score (± SD) among the Apo-E ε4 carriers (15.0 ± 10.0) and noncarriers (18.7 ± 8.6) (p < .001) differed among the whole population, but not within the demented or nondemented subjects analyzed separately. This study does not support the hypothesis that the Apo-E ε4 allele impairs cognitive functions of nondemented elderly, at least in those surviving to very old age.

Type
Articles
Copyright
© 2000 International Psychogeriatric Association

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