Apolipoprotein-E (APO-E) genotype and symptoms of psychosis in Alzheimer's disease

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 1999 Spring;7(2):119-23.

Abstract

The authors examined the association of Apolipoprotein-E (APO-E) genotype to symptoms of psychosis and depression in 501 patients diagnosed with probable (n=343) or possible (n=158) Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. They observed the following APO-E genotypes: epsilon2/epsilon3 (n=19); epsilon2/epsilon4 (n=14); epsilon3/epsilon3 (n=228); epsilon3/epsilon4 (n=203); epsilon4/epsilon4 (n=37). In contrast to previous reports, the results did not indicate a relationship between either the epsilon4 allele or the epsilon2 allele and symptoms of mood disturbance in AD. However, an elevated risk for psychosis was shown, specifically, at the severe stage of cognitive impairment, among AD patients carrying the epsilon4 allele, after effects of age, gender, education, and level of cognitive impairment were controlled.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics*
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / etiology
  • Depression / genetics
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychotic Disorders / etiology*
  • Psychotic Disorders / genetics
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E