Apolipoprotein E, cognitive function, and cognitive decline among older Taiwanese adults

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is believed to play a role in the onset of dementia, though less is known about its relationship with non-pathogenic age-related cognitive decline. We assessed whether APOE was a risk factor for cognitive decline among older Taiwanese adults using nationally representative data. General cognition was measured longitudinally over eleven years; domain-specific cognitive assessments of working memory, declarative learning and three aspects of attention (executive function, alerting, and orientation) were performed once. Having at least one risky APOE allele was associated with more rapid longitudinal cognitive decline compared to those with no risky alleles. Some evidence from the cross-sectional analysis of domain-specific cognitive assessments suggested that APOE genotype may be more closely associated with working memory and declarative learning than with attention. Most genetic studies of cognition include only populations of European descent; extension is crucial. This study confirmed the association between APOE genotype and the rate of cognitive decline in a predominantly Han Chinese population. Additional studies on diverse populations are warranted.

Incidence and Cognitive Decline of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia by Apolipoprotein ε4 Allele Presence: A Community-Based Cohort Study in Korean Elderly

“…26 The association between the ε4 variant and accelerated longitudinal cognitive decline has also been shown in community studies of both the Caucasian and Asian populations. 27,28 From the aspect of relative risk of dementia (i.e., AD and other dementia), it was not statistically significant depending on the presence of the APOE ε4 allele in present study. This finding was consistent with existing results community studies in the African, Hispanic, and Asian demographic.…”

Association between Alzheimer’s disease genes and trajectories of cognitive function decline in Han Chinese in Taiwan

“…Although the rate of cognitive decline and the risk of AD are not identical, the presence of complex gene-gene interactions of the APOE gene in both situations should be considered. A previous study using data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging showed an association between the APOE genotype and the rate of cognitive decline in a predominantly Han Chinese population [ 3 ]. In the present study, the APOE gene ε4 allele was significantly associated with an earlier midpoint of cognitive decline in AD and MCI patients in both the Han Chinese population in Taiwan and ADNI population in America and associated with a rapid rate of cognitive decline in the Han Chinese population.…”

“…Among these factors, genetic background is one of the most important contributors to the rate of cognitive decline. The results from previous studies have shown that having at least one APOE ε4 allele was associated with faster cognitive decline in cognitively healthy older Taiwanese adults [ 3 ], and PDE7A and MTFR1 genes were associated with the rate of age-related cognitive decline [ 4 ]. Moreover, BDNF Val66Met was associated with faster cognitive decline and greater hippocampal atrophy in preclinical AD patients [ 5 ].…”

Hubungan Faktor Okupasi terhadap Aktivitas Asetilkolinesterase Eritrosit dan Fungsi Kognitif pada Petani yang Menggunakan Pestisida Organofosfat

“…Fungsi kognitif juga terkait dengan aktivitas mental yang dilakukan secara sadar seperti kemampuan berpikir, belajar dan penggunaan bahasa. 5 Dalam hasil penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Cinthya pada tahun 2019, diungkap bahwa sebanyak 75% dari 40 responden mengalami gangguan kognitif, dengan 57,5% responden mengalami gangguan kognitif ringan dan 17,5% mengalami gangguan kognitif sedang pada petani bunga akibat pajanan pestisida. 6 Penelitian lain juga telah dilakukan mengenai gangguan kognitif pada pekerja yang terpapar pestisida, hasilnya 39,1% petani jeruk yang menggunakan pestisida mengalami gangguan kognitif ringan.…”