APOLIPOPROTEIN-E - NON-COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS AND COGNITIVE DECLINE IN LATE-ONSET ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Objectives-To determine the association between the epsilon 2 and epsi lon 4 alleles of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and independent measures of c ognitive decline and noncognitive symptomatology in late onset Alzheim er's disease, Methods-The frequency of the epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 all eles of ApoE and their association with measures of cognitive decline and noncognitive symptomatology were assessed in a population based ca se register study of 164 patients with late onset Alzheimer's disease from the east Lambeth and south Southwark districts of south London. R esults-Analysis of a wide range of noncognitive symptoms against ApoE epsilon 4 genotype showed no significant association but a positive re lation was found between ApoE epsilon 2 genotype and depressive sympto matology (P = 0.004). No relation was found between measurements of co gnitive 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 e psilon 4 allele was found, confirming earlier studies, Conclusion-Pres ence 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: psy chopathology or a more rapid progression of the illness, The epsilon 2 allele of ApoE is associated with depressive symptomatalogy in late o nset Alzheimer's disease.