APOE-ε4 Predisposes to Cognitive Dysfunction Following Uncomplicated Carotid Endarterectomy.

Abstract

The first author of the article "APOE-ε4 predisposes to cognitive dysfunction following uncomplicated carotid endarterectomy" by Heyer et al.1 wrote to the journal letting us know that Columbia University had conducted an investigation into his research program and questioned data collection for this article from a series of data sets that evolved between 1995 and 2012. Derivation of samples in specific articles was unclear because a "master" database identifying which participants were included in which publications did not exist. The investigation determined that the description of study methods in publications likely overstates the completeness of the neuropsychological testing data by suggesting that all participants completed neuropsychological testing in all 4 tested domains. In fact, in some instances, participants completed as few as 2 domains, and no adjustments were made to address missing data. Because the reasons for the missing data were multifactorial and not uniformly documented, the implications for substantive findings could not be ascertained. The investigation also determined that the neuropsychological testing was conducted by research assistants who were trained primarily by their predecessors, were not actively supervised, and did not have advanced training. The implications for substantive findings, similarly, could not be ascertained.