APOLIPOPROTEIN-E PHENOTYPE IS NOT RELATED TO LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) allele frequencies were examined in a populati on-based sample (n = 475; age range 65-84 years; Amsterdam Study of th e Elderly). The relation of ApoE epsilon 4 with dementia and with vari ous types of late-life depression was studied. Depression was measured with the Geriatric Mental State schedule. Dementia was diagnosed by D SM-III-R criteria. It was expected that ApoE epsilon 4 allele frequenc ies would be elevated not only in Alzheimer's disease and dementia in general, but also in first episode, late-life depression accompanied b y subtle cognitive impairment (possibly organic depression). However, the results indicated that epsilon 4 allele frequency is related to (f amily history of) dementia and cognitive impairment, but not to possib ly organic depression. The main predictor of late-life depression is a n episode of psychiatric problems before the age of 65 years.