Cognitive asymmetries associated with apolipoprotein E genotype in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Full Abstract

The relationship between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and cognitive performance was examined in 200 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Differences between composite measures of verbal and nonverbal functioning were used to define asymmetric patterns of cognition. Patients who were homozygous for apoE epsilon4 demonstrated relatively worse nonverbal as compared to verbal cognitive ability. In contrast, participants who were heterozygous for apoE epsilon4 or who possessed no epsilon4 allele demonstrated relatively equivalent verbal and nonverbal cognitive abilities. Although age and dementia severity also contributed to these patterns, apoE genotype appears to have a significant unique contribution to cognitive performance in these individuals. The epsilon4 allele may thus be associated with a specific neurocognitive phenotype among patients with AD, with the overall pattern of cognitive asymmetry dependent upon epsilon4 dose.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Finton, Michael J (MJ); Lucas, John A (JA); Rippeth, Julie D (JD); Bohac, Daryl L (DL); Smith, Glenn E (GE); Ivnik, Robert J (RJ); Petersen, Ronald C (RC); Graff-Radford, Neill R (NR);

Affiliation: The Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience Institute, Kettering, Ohio, USA.

Grants: AG06786 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS) ; AG08031 (Agency:NIA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS (J Int Neuropsychol Soc), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jul; vol 9 (issue 5) : pp 751-9

Dates: Created 2003/08/06; Completed 2003/09/23; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12901781, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aged
Alzheimer Disease - genetics; psychology
Apolipoproteins E - genetics
Cognition - physiology
Cognition Disorders - genetics; psychology
Female
Functional Laterality - physiology
Genotype

Heterozygote
Homozygote
Humans
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Space Perception - physiology
Verbal Behavior - physiology
Visual Perception - genetics; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Apolipoproteins E (0)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.