THE ASSOCIATION OF APOLIPOPROTEIN-E POLYMORPHISM WITH MEMORY - A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Several studies have shown an association between the apolipoprotein e psilon 4 allele and Alzheimer's disease (AD), The allele epsilon 2 has been associated with survival and longevity. We wanted to examine whe ther the relationship between cognitive efficiency and apolipoprotein E polymorphism (APOE) exists in a random sample of 916 non-demented el derly subjects. Episodic memory was examined with the list learning te st, and with immediate and delayed recall of the figures. Semantic mem ory was examined with the Category and Verbal Fluency Tests. Construct ional abilities were examined by copying the figures. Attention functi ons were examined with Trail Making A and B tests. We found that subje cts with APOE E2/2 and 2/3 phenotypes showed better learning ability t han those subjects with the APOE E2/4, 3/4 or 4/4 phenotypes. Impaired memory was not related to the excess of cardiovascular diseases in th e subjects with APOE E2/4, 3/4, 4/4 phenotypes. Thus they may be assoc iated, at least partly, with genetic factors.