Abstract
Objectives
ApoE ε4 is associated with adverse health conditions that negatively impact the quality
of life (QOL). The relationship between ApoE ε4 and QOL has not been explored in the
oldest old. Our study aimed to examine ApoE in the oldest old and explore its association
with QOL.
Design
Cross-sectional cohort study.
Setting
A medium sized community in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Participants
Individuals aged 90 to 99 years, living independently or in long term care environments.
Measurements
We collected demographic information and measured cognitive function (Short Test of
Mental Status, Mini-Mental State Examination, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale), QOL (Linear
Analogue Self Assessment), and ApoE distribution. Subjects were classified as cognitively
normal, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or dementia with stroke and/or parkinsonism
(DEMSP). Regression model was used to assess the predictors of QOL.
Results
A total of 121 subjects (45 cognitively normal, 13 with mild cognitive impairment,
34 with dementia, 29 DEMSP) aged 90–99 years, 106 (87.6 %) females, were included.
Frequency of ApoE ε3 allele was highest (194 [80.2%]: ε2/3 18, ε3/3 77, ε3/4 22) followed
by ApoE ε4 (25 [10.3%]: ε2/4 3, ε3/4 22) and ApoE ε2 (23 [9.5%; ε2/2 1, ε2/3 18, ε2/4
3). None of the subjects carried ApoE ε4/4 genotype. QOL was similar between ApoE
ε4 carrier and noncarriers. Physical well-being, emotional well-being, intellectual
well-being, social connectedness, and coping ability were positively associated with
QOL, whereas male sex, DEMSP, pain frequency, and pain severity were negatively associated.
Conclusions
The most common ApoE in the oldest old was ε3/3 genotype and ε3 allele. No association
was found between ApoE ε4 and QOL. However, those with high physical, emotional and
intellectual well being, social connectedness, and coping ability had the highest
overall QOL.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 06, 2012
Footnotes
Supported by the Alzheimer's Association, NIA grants AG16574 and AG06786, and the Robert H. and Clarice Smith and Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program of the Mayo Foundation. This study was approved by Institutional Review Board of Mayo Clinic and written consent was obtained from all participants. The results of our study have been presented as a poster at the 12th International Conference on Alzheimer’s disease in Vienna, Austria on July 12, 2009.
Study data were obtained from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, which is supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AG034676. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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Copyright
© 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc.
