Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism has been implicated in predisposition to diabetes and dementia in old population, but the results from the different studies were inconclusive. A cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the relationship among ApoE gene polymorphism, diabetes and cognition in non-demented aging Chinese adults. A total number of 1000 community dwellers aged 55 years and above were randomly recruited. Demographic information of the participants was collected using well designed self-administered questionnaires. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was employed to evaluate the cognitive status of the participants. Semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain the dietary intake information. Fasting venous blood samples were taken for ApoE genotyping and serum lipid measurements. 238 participants were type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and 145 participants were ApoE4 carriers. ApoE 4-T2DM subjects had higher serum triglyceride (TG) concentration than E2 and E3 carriers (P < 0.05). T2DM subjects carrying ApoE4 had lower cognition than subjects with E2 or E3 carriers (P < 0.05). Comparing to non-type 2 diabetic mild cognitive impaired (nT2DM-MCI) subjects, the type 2 diabetic mild cognitive impaired (T2DM-MCI) subjects have higher serum glucose (Glu) level and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) level (P < 0.05). The T2DM-MCI subjects carrying ApoE4 have lower cognition than E2 and E3 carriers (P <0.05); and the interaction of ApoE genotype with T2DM was detected (P < 0.05). Our results indicated the association among ApoE gene polymorphism, T2DM and cognitive performance in non-demented aging population. The carrying of ApoE4 predisposed the T2DM subjects and the T2DM-MCI subjects to have poor cognitive performance. Additional experimental studies are required to explore the mechanism that ApoE genotype modifies the risk for cognitive impairment in aging subjects with T2DM.
Highlights
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism has been implicated in predisposition to diabetes and dementia in old population, but the results from the different studies were inconclusive
Human beings-based studies indicated that the ApoE4 carrier exhibit reduced clearance of Aβ and insufficient neuronal damage repair compared to the E2 and E3 carriers [19]
ApoE genotypes were determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification and Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis according to the method described by Hixson [24]
Summary
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism has been implicated in predisposition to diabetes and dementia in old population, but the results from the different studies were inconclusive. A cross-sectional study was carried out to explore the relationship among ApoE gene polymorphism, diabetes and cognition in non-demented aging Chinese adults. Our results indicated the association among ApoE gene polymorphism, T2DM and cognitive performance in non-demented aging population. The underlying mechanisms through which that T2DM influencing cognitive functions in aging population are unclear [8] Many factors such as gender, ethnicity and body weight were suggested to be associated with cognition changes in T2DM patients [9,10,11]. In the present work, a community based cross-sectional study was carried out aiming to explore how ApoE gene polymorphism and T2DM associates with cognitive changes, as well as whether ApoE genetic polymorphism modulates the association between T2DM and cognitive function in non-demented community aging Chinese adults
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