PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS AND APOLIPOPROTEIN-E GENOTYPES IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION

Background: Psychotic symptoms have been found to be more common in de mented elderly persons. Genetic variation in the apolipoprotein E (APO E) gene is reported to be associated with variation in the risk of Alz heimer's dementia. This study reports on variables associated with psy chotic symptoms including APOE, in demented and nondemented elderly pe rsons. Methods: A population of 668 elderly persons was examined APOE genotype was available in 309 individuals. Results: Psychotic symptoms were found to be associated with dementia, a previous psychiatric his tory, female gender, being less educated, disability in daily living a nd institutionalisation. In the nondemented group, psychotic symptoms were equally common in subjects with or without the epsilon 4 present. In the demented subjects, psychotic symptoms were slightly more commo n, although not significant, in subjects without the epsilon 4 genotyp e. Conclusions: There was no statistical significant difference in APO E genotype between subjects with and without psychotic symptoms, strat ified by dementia diagnosis. Biol Psychiatry 1998;44:139-140 (C) 1998 Society of Biological Psychiatry.