ApoE4 genotype and cognitive performance in Korean health examinees with subjective memory complaints: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Subjective memory complaints are a natural phenomenon in the aging process. The apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (ApoE4) allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The aims of this study were to determine the distribution of the ApoE genotype and how the status of ApoE4 is associated with the cognitive function of Korean health examinees with subjective memory complaints. Methods:A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,107 health examinees with subjective memory complaints who underwent both medical and cognitive testing including ApoE genotyping at two health-promotion centers in two Korean cities between 2016 and 2017. ApoE was genotyped using the Seeplex ApoE ACE Genotyping (Seegene, Seoul, Korea). Cognitive function was assessed using the K-MMSE. All of the subjects were classified according to the ApoE4 status into non-carriers, heterozygotes, and homozygotes. The odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using logistic regression for assessing the relationship between the ApoE4 genotype and cognitive impairment. ANOVA was used to compare the cognitive domain scores according to the ApoE4 status.Results: ApoE4 allele frequency was 10.6%. ApoE4 homozygosity was significantly associated with a lower K-MMSE score (≤23) (OR=4.651, 95% CI=1.287-16.812) compared to ApoE4 non-carriers, and this association remained after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, blood lipid, and glucose. The scores in the temporal orientation and recall domains were lower in ApoE4 heterozygotes than in ApoE4 non-carriers (P<0.05).Discussion: ApoE4 homozygosity was associated with cognitive impairment in health examinees with subjective memory complaints and ApoE4 allele selectively affects to temporal orentation and recall domains. exhibits a north-south gradient across European both healthy people and AD, being highest in the north and lowest in the south.The aims of this study were to determine the distribution of the ApoE genotype and how the status of ApoE4 is associated with the cognitive function of Korean health examinees with subjective memory complaints. Moreover, the cognitive domain scores were evaluated according to ApoE4 status. Methods SubjectsA retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,107 health examinees with subjective memory complaints who underwent both medical and cognitive testing including ApoE genotyping as part of a health checkup at two health-promotion centers in two Korean cities between January 2016 and December 2017. The exclusion criteria Nah E (2019) ApoE4 genotype and cognitive performance in Korean health examinees with subjective memory complaints: A retrospective cross-sectional study