Abstract
We investigated the risk of cognitive deterioration in relation to alcohol consumption and smoking according to the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism. The ApoE epsilon4 allele is an established risk factor for dementia and cognitive impairment. There are also some recent indications that vascular risk factors, including alcohol and tobacco consumption, might play a role in cognition. Our data are from the Epidemiology of Vascular Aging (EVA) study, a prospective study of 1,389 subjects ages 59-71 years at study entry, living the city of Nantes, France, and followed at 4 years after entry. Information on subjects' alcohol and tobacco consumption was collected from a structured questionnaire on food habits. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cognitive deterioration was defined as a decrease of 3 points or more in the Mini-Mental State Examination between study entry and 4-year follow-up. Drinking was associated with a decreased risk of cognitive deterioration in non-ApoE epsilon4 carriers, whereas an opposite association was observed in ApoE epsilon4 carriers. The risk of cognitive deterioration associated with tobacco consumption was also modified according to ApoE genotype, with smokers being at decreased risk of cognitive deterioration among ApoE epsilon4 allele carriers and at increased risk in noncarriers. The effects of alcohol consumption and smoking on the risk of cognitive deterioration appears to be strongly modified by the presence of ApoE epsilon4 allele.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.