OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the APOE alleles and depressive symptoms of older adults, considering individual characteristics and the effect of neighborhood environment. METHODS: Using a multilevel, stratified sampling strategy, 500 elders were recruited from official household records. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire [TDQ]. Cognitive function was assessed by the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire [SPMSQ]. Blood samples were collected for the determination of the Apolipoprotein E [APOE] polymorphism. Perceived neighborhood experience was brought together using the Neighborhood Quality Index [NQI]. RESULTS: Three hundred and three subjects (58.8% male, with a mean age of 69.2 [SD=2.7] years) completed all questionnaires and the collection of blood samples. Risk factors for depressive symptoms of elders included lower educational level, cognitive impairment, having 2 or more chronic diseases, and having the APOE epsilon4 allele. In the 2-level model with individual characteristics and neighborhood environmental factors, the effect of the APOE epsilon4 allele on depressive symptoms was significantly attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: The APOE epsilon4 allele is correlated with depressive symptoms among older adults, but moderated by neighborhood environmental factors.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the APOE alleles and depressive symptoms of older adults, considering individual characteristics and the effect of neighborhood environment. METHODS: Using a multilevel, stratified sampling strategy, 500 elders were recruited from official household records. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire [TDQ]. Cognitive function was assessed by the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire [SPMSQ]. Blood samples were collected for the determination of the Apolipoprotein E [APOE] polymorphism. Perceived neighborhood experience was brought together using the Neighborhood Quality Index [NQI]. RESULTS: Three hundred and three subjects (58.8% male, with a mean age of 69.2 [SD=2.7] years) completed all questionnaires and the collection of blood samples. Risk factors for depressive symptoms of elders included lower educational level, cognitive impairment, having 2 or more chronic diseases, and having the APOE epsilon4 allele. In the 2-level model with individual characteristics and neighborhood environmental factors, the effect of the APOE epsilon4 allele on depressive symptoms was significantly attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: The APOE epsilon4 allele is correlated with depressive symptoms among older adults, but moderated by neighborhood environmental factors.
Authors: Peter Martin; S Michal Jazwinski; Adam Davey; Robert C Green; Maurice Macdonald; Jennifer A Margrett; Ilene C Siegler; Jonathan Arnold; John L Woodard; Mary Ann Johnson; Sangkyu Kim; Jianliang Dai; Li Li; Mark A Batzer; Leonard W Poon Journal: Aging Ment Health Date: 2013-09-02 Impact factor: 3.658
Authors: Rosalba Hernandez; Kiarri N Kershaw; Thomas R Prohaska; Pin-Chieh Wang; David X Marquez; Catherine A Sarkisian Journal: J Aging Health Date: 2014-10-16
Authors: JoEllen Wilbur; Shannon Zenk; Edward Wang; April Oh; Judith McDevitt; Dick Block; Sue McNeil; SuKyung Ju Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2009-08 Impact factor: 2.681