BACKGROUND: Studies examining the epsilon4 allele of the APOE gene as a factor affecting the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) have yielded conflicting results. The focus of these studies on physical disability to the neglect of cognitive impairment is surprising in light of the associations between the epsilon4 allele and other dementia conditions. Only two studies examine the relationship between the epsilon4 allele and cognitive impairment. METHODS: A neuropsychological test battery was administered to 263 MS patients, and their current disability status was evaluated. Genotypes were determined for APOE epsilon and for two promoter region polymorphisms (-219 G/T and -491 A/T). RESULTS: Although effects were generally weak, female patients with the -491 AA genotype had a later age of disease onset, lower disability scores, and somewhat higher scores on the cognitive battery. Male patients with the epsilon2 allele had lower disability and higher scores on the cognitive battery. The epsilon4 allele was not related to physical disability, and there was no difference between epsilon4+ and epsilon4--patients in overall cognitive performance. However, when patients with severe cognitive impairment were identified, a greater proportion (52%) of these patients had the epsilon4 allele than those in the unimpaired group (27%). CONCLUSION: An association with the epsilon4 allele was evident in this study, but only in cases of severe cognitive impairment.
BACKGROUND: Studies examining the epsilon4 allele of the APOE gene as a factor affecting the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) have yielded conflicting results. The focus of these studies on physical disability to the neglect of cognitive impairment is surprising in light of the associations between the epsilon4 allele and other dementia conditions. Only two studies examine the relationship between the epsilon4 allele and cognitive impairment. METHODS: A neuropsychological test battery was administered to 263 MSpatients, and their current disability status was evaluated. Genotypes were determined for APOE epsilon and for two promoter region polymorphisms (-219 G/T and -491 A/T). RESULTS: Although effects were generally weak, female patients with the -491 AA genotype had a later age of disease onset, lower disability scores, and somewhat higher scores on the cognitive battery. Male patients with the epsilon2 allele had lower disability and higher scores on the cognitive battery. The epsilon4 allele was not related to physical disability, and there was no difference between epsilon4+ and epsilon4--patients in overall cognitive performance. However, when patients with severe cognitive impairment were identified, a greater proportion (52%) of these patients had the epsilon4 allele than those in the unimpaired group (27%). CONCLUSION: An association with the epsilon4 allele was evident in this study, but only in cases of severe cognitive impairment.
Authors: Rosalía Fernández-Calle; Sabine C Konings; Javier Frontiñán-Rubio; Juan García-Revilla; Lluís Camprubí-Ferrer; Martina Svensson; Isak Martinson; Antonio Boza-Serrano; José Luís Venero; Henrietta M Nielsen; Gunnar K Gouras; Tomas Deierborg Journal: Mol Neurodegener Date: 2022-09-24 Impact factor: 18.879
Authors: Hamid Mirmohammad Sadeghi; Ali Mohammad Sabzghabaee; Zeinab Mousavian; Mohammad Saadatnia; Shahin Shirani; Fatemeh Moazen Journal: J Res Med Sci Date: 2011-12 Impact factor: 1.852
Authors: Katline Metzger-Peter; Laurent Daniel Kremer; Gilles Edan; Paulo Loureiro De Sousa; Julien Lamy; Dominique Bagnard; Ayikoe-Guy Mensah-Nyagan; Thibault Tricard; Guillaume Mathey; Marc Debouverie; Eric Berger; Anne Kerbrat; Nicolas Meyer; Jérôme De Seze; Nicolas Collongues Journal: Trials Date: 2020-06-29 Impact factor: 2.279