Memory performance and the apolipoprotein E polymorphism in a community sample of middle-aged adults.

摘要: The apolipoprotein E genotype (APOE) is an established risk factor for Alzheimer disease, with the age-at-onset occurring earlier in individuals having at least one APOE epsilon 4 allele, relative to 3 or 2 isoforms. Moreover, nondemented older adults allele also show diminished cognitive performance, particularly on tests of learning and memory, accelerated decline memory performance increasing age. current investigation extends study healthy, middle-aged adults. A community sample 220 non-Hispanic Caucasian men women, aged 24-60 (average age = 46), were genotyped polymorphism completed a battery neuropsychological tests. Multivariate analyses conducted measures verbal (e. g., list words recalling them 30 min later), visual (e.g., reproducing previously copied figure from memory), attention span repeating long lists digits), after adjustments age, estimated IQ. Results indicated that tasks was significantly poorer any genotypes (P <.01). Attention did not differ by genotype. These findings, first adults, suggest marker age-related (detectable prior overt, clinical manifestations loss), and/or individual differences ability across life span. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:707-711, 2000.