DEPRESSION AND DEMENTIA IN RELATION TO APOLIPOPROTEIN-E POLYMORPHISM IN A POPULATION-SAMPLE AGE 75+

The aim of this study was to define the co-occurrence of depression an d dementia in relation to apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism. Physic ians extensively examined 806 persons aged 78 years and over. DNA was extracted from peripheral white blood cells, and APOE genotype was det ermined using a microsequencing method on microtiter plates, The preva lence of dementia was 22.8% and was found to increase with the number of epsilon 4 alleles present. Depression was found in 11.4% of the dem ented subjects compared to 3.5% of the nondemented subjects, The overr epresentation of depression in demented subjects was found for each of the common genotypes. Depression was not strongly associated with APO E polymorphism. In spite of the association between dementia and APOE polymorphism, as well as dementia and depression, there was no associa tion between APOE polymorphism and depression. (C) 1997 Society of Bio logical Psychiatry.