Role of APOE ε gene in cognitive performance among cognitively healthy participants of TLSA cohort

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAPOE ε4 is a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), however, effect of APOE ε4 on cognitive decline is not well understood. TATA Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA) is a longitudinal study in healthy aging individuals in Bangalore, India.MethodWe analyzed the performance on global cognition, processing speed, working memory, auditory attention, verbal short‐term memory, and visuospatial skills, to ascertain between APOE ε4 carriers and non‐carriers among healthy participants of TLSA.ResultGeneralized linear models were constructed which showed that APOE ε4 carriers showed a faster cognitive decline in auditory attention and verbal short‐term memory as measured by digit forward test (B = ‐0.79; p = 0.001) compared to non‐carriers at two years of follow up. The presence of APOE ε4 allele didn’t affect the rate of cognitive decline on other cognitive domains.ConclusionThe presence of specific cognitive deficits in APOE ε4 carriers could potentially be a composite biomarker for early cognitive decline in people carrying this allele.