Apolipoprotein E: Non-cognitive symptoms and cognitive decline in late onset Alzheimer's disease

Objectives-To determine the association between the epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 alleles of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and independent measures of cognitive decline and noncognitive symptomatology in late onset Alzheimer's disease, Methods-The frequency of the epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 alleles of ApoE and their association with measures of cognitive decline and noncognitive symptomatology were assessed in a population based case register study of 164 patients with late onset Alzheimer's disease from the east Lambeth and south Southwark districts of south London. Results-Analysis of a wide range of noncognitive symptoms against ApoE epsilon 4 genotype showed no significant association but a positive relation was found between ApoE epsilon 2 genotype and depressive symptomatology (P = 0.004). No relation was found between measurements of cognitive decline and the presence of the ApoE epsilon 4 allele, A trend for decreasing age at onset of 3 to 4 years in carriers of the ApoE epsilon 4 allele was found, confirming earlier studies, Conclusion-Presence of the epsilon 4 allele of ApoE is associated with an earlier age at onset but does not seem to be related to either a more severe: psychopathology or a more rapid progression of the illness, The epsilon 2 allele of ApoE is associated with depressive symptomatalogy in late onset Alzheimer's disease.