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Lombardi G, Pancani S, Bagnoli S, Vannetti F, Nacmias B, Sorbi S, Cecchi F, Macchi C. Understanding the interplay between APO E polymorphism and cognition in the Italian oldest old: results from the "Mugello study". Neurol Sci 2024; 45:539-546. [PMID: 37710144 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07073-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent data suggest that the deleterious effect on general health and cognition of ε4 allele of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) observed in the elderly population, may attenuate in extreme aging. This study aimed to describe the ApoE genotype distribution and its relationship with cognition in a group of nonagenarians living in the Mugello area, Italy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cognition was evaluated using the Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE). DNA was extracted from blood samples to determine ApoE genotyping. Participants were classified into three ApoE groups (ε2, ε3, ε4). Logistic and linear regression models were created, to assess the relationship between ApoE genotype group and dementia diagnosis and cognitive performance, respectively. RESULTS 169 subjects were included. ApoE ε3 was the most prevalent genotype (76.3%). Dementia prevalence was 26.6% and it was not associated with the presence of ApoE ε4. Participants of ε4 group were significantly more likely to have lower cognitive performances than ε2 and ε3, independently of a dementia diagnosis. DISCUSSION Results support that ApoE genotype no longer plays a role in the health condition of the oldest old, however, an interaction is detectable between ApoE polymorphism and cognitive performances at this extreme age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Lombardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Pancani
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy.
| | - Silvia Bagnoli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy
| | - Federica Vannetti
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Cecchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Macchi
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Di Scandicci 269, 50143, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
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Zhou C, Zhang Y, Yang S, Ye Z, Wu Q, Liu M, He P, Zhang Y, Qin X. Habitual glucosamine use, APOE genotypes, and risk of incident cause-specific dementia in the older population. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:152. [PMID: 37689747 PMCID: PMC10492372 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01295-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship of glucosamine use with incident dementia in the older population remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the longitudinal association between habitual glucosamine supplement and the risk of cause-specific dementia and examine the possible effect modifiers on this association. METHODS The study included 214,945 participants over the age of 60 who had available information on glucosamine use and did not have dementia at baseline in the UK Biobank. The APOE genotypes were determined by a combination variant of rs429358 and rs7412. The primary outcome was incident vascular dementia, incident Alzheimer's disease, and incident frontotemporal dementia, respectively. RESULTS Over a median follow-up duration of 12 years, 1039, 1774, and 122 participants developed vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and frontotemporal dementia, respectively. Overall, habitual glucosamine use was significantly associated with a lower risk of incident vascular dementia (adjusted HR, 0.82; 95%CI, 0.70-0.96), but not significantly associated with incident Alzheimer's disease (adjusted HR, 1.02; 95%CI, 0.92-1.14) and incident frontotemporal dementia (adjusted HR, 0.95; 95%CI, 0.63-1.43). Moreover, the inverse association between habitual glucosamine use and incident vascular dementia was more pronounced in participants with concomitant supplement of calcium (P-interaction = 0.011), and those without concomitant supplement of zinc (P-interaction = 0.018). However, APOE ε4 dosage and baseline cognitive function did not significantly modify the relationships of glucosamine use with incident vascular dementia or Alzheimer's disease (All P-interactions > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Regardless of APOE genotypes and baseline cognitive function, habitual glucosamine use was significantly inversely associated with incident vascular dementia in the older population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Sisi Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ziliang Ye
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Qimeng Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Mengyi Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Panpan He
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xianhui Qin
- National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Renal Failure Research, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Akhter F, Persaud A, Zaokari Y, Zhao Z, Zhu D. Vascular Dementia and Underlying Sex Differences. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:720715. [PMID: 34566624 PMCID: PMC8457333 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.720715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD); where Alzheimer's accounts for 60-70% of cases of dementia and VaD accounts for 20% of all dementia cases. VaD is defined as a reduced or lack of blood flow to the brain that causes dementia. VaD is also known occasionally as vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) or multi-infarct dementia (MID). VCID is the condition arising from stroke and other vascular brain injuries that cause significant changes to memory, thinking, and behavior, and VaD is the most severe stage while MID is produced by the synergistic effects caused by multiple mini strokes in the brain irrespective of specific location or volume. There are also subtle differences in the presentation of VaD in males and females, but they are often overlooked. Since 1672 when the first case of VaD was reported until now, sex and gender differences have had little to no research done when it comes to the umbrella term of dementia in general. This review summarizes the fundamentals of VaD followed by a focus on the differences between sex and gender when an individual is diagnosed. In addition, we provide critical evidence concerning sex and gender differences with a few of the main risk factors of VaD including pre-existing health conditions and family history, gene variants, aging, hormone fluctuations, and environmental risk factors. Additionally, the pharmaceutical treatments and possible mitigation of risk factors is explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firoz Akhter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Alicia Persaud
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Younis Zaokari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Donghui Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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Mentis AFA, Dardiotis E, Chrousos GP. Apolipoprotein E4 and meningeal lymphatics in Alzheimer disease: a conceptual framework. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1075-1097. [PMID: 32355332 PMCID: PMC7985019 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0731-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The potential existence and roles of the meningeal lymphatic system in normal and pathological brain function have been a long-standing enigma. Recent evidence suggests that meningeal lymphatic vessels are present in both the mouse and human brain; in mice, they seem to play a role in clearing toxic amyloid-beta peptides, which have been connected with Alzheimer disease (AD). Here, we review the evidence linking the meningeal lymphatic system with human AD. Novel findings suggest that the recently described meningeal lymphatic vessels could be linked to, and possibly drain, the efferent paravascular glial lymphatic (glymphatic) system carrying cerebrospinal fluid, after solute and immune cell exchange with brain interstitial fluid. In so doing, the glymphatic system could contribute to the export of toxic solutes and immune cells from the brain (an exported fluid we wish to describe as glymph, similarly to lymph) to the meningeal lymphatic system; the latter, by being connected with downstream anatomic regions, carries the glymph to the conventional cervical lymphatic vessels and nodes. Thus, abnormal function in the meningeal lymphatic system could, in theory, lead to the accumulation, in the brain, of amyloid-beta, cellular debris, and inflammatory mediators, as well as immune cells, resulting in damage of the brain parenchyma and, in turn, cognitive and other neurologic dysfunctions. In addition, we provide novel insights into APOE4-the leading genetic risk factor for AD-and its relation to the meningeal lymphatic system. In this regard, we have reanalyzed previously published RNA-Seq data to show that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying the APOE4 allele (either as APOE4 knock-in or stemming from APOE4 patients) express lower levels of (a) genes associated with lymphatic markers, and (b) genes for which well-characterized missense mutations have been linked to peripheral lymphedema. Taking into account this evidence, we propose a new conceptual framework, according to which APOE4 could play a novel role in the premature shrinkage of meningeal lymphatic vessels (meningeal lymphosclerosis), leading to abnormal meningeal lymphatic functions (meningeal lymphedema), and, in turn, reduction in the clearance of amyloid-beta and other macromolecules and inflammatory mediators, as well as immune cells, from the brain, exacerbation of AD manifestations, and progression of the disease. Altogether, these findings and their potential interpretations may herald novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches in patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexios-Fotios A Mentis
- Public Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Vas. Sofias Avenue 127, 115 21, Athens, Greece.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Thessaly, Panepistimiou 3, Viopolis, 41 500, Larissa, Greece.
| | - Efthimios Dardiotis
- Department of Neurology, University of Thessaly, Panepistimiou 3, Viopolis, 41 500, Larissa, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Livadias 8, 115 27, Athens, Greece
- UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, Athens, Greece
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Affleck AJ, Sachdev PS, Stevens J, Halliday GM. Antihypertensive medications ameliorate Alzheimer's disease pathology by slowing its propagation. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2020; 6:e12060. [PMID: 32802934 PMCID: PMC7424255 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mounting evidence supports an association between antihypertensive medication use and reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consensus on possible pathological mechanisms remains elusive. METHODS Human brain tissue from a cohort followed to autopsy that included 96 cases of AD (46 medicated for hypertension) and 53 pathological controls (33 also medicated) matched for cerebrovascular disease was available from the New South Wales Brain Banks. Quantified frontal cortex amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau proteins plus Alzheimer's neuropathologic change scores were analyzed. RESULTS Univariate analyses found no difference in amounts of AD proteins in the frontal cortex between medication users, but multivariate analyses showed that antihypertensive medication use was associated with a less extensive spread of AD proteins throughout the brain. DISCUSSION The heterogeneous nature of the antihypertensive medications is consistent with downstream beneficial effects of blood pressure lowering and/or management being associated with the reduced spreading of AD pathology observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Affleck
- Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)SydneyAustralia
- School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Perminder S. Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA)School of Psychiatry Faculty of MedicineUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
| | - Julia Stevens
- Discipline of PathologySchool of Medical SciencesUniversity of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Glenda M. Halliday
- Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)SydneyAustralia
- School of Medical SciencesFaculty of MedicineUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
- Brain and Mind Centre & Faculty of Medicine and HealthSydney Medical SchoolUniversity of SydneySydneyAustralia
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CSF level of β-amyloid peptide predicts mortality in Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2019; 11:29. [PMID: 30922415 PMCID: PMC6440001 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-019-0481-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Objective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the sixth leading cause of death, with an average survival estimated between 5 and 10 years after diagnosis. Despite recent advances in diagnostic criteria of AD, few studies have used biomarker-based diagnostics to determine the prognostic factors of AD. We investigate predictors of death and institutionalization in a population of AD patients with high probability of AD physiopathology process assessed by positivity of three CSF biomarkers. Methods Three hundred twenty-one AD patients with abnormal values for CSF beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ42), tau, and phosphorylated tau levels were recruited from a memory clinic-based registry between 2008 and 2017 (Lariboisiere hospital, Paris, France) and followed during a median period of 3.9 years. We used multivariable Cox models to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of death and institutionalization for baseline clinical data, genotype of the apolipoprotein E (APOE), and levels of CSF biomarkers. Results A total of 71 (22%) patients were institutionalized and 57 (18%) died during the follow-up. Greater age, male sex, lower MMSE score, and lower CSF Aβ42 level were associated with an increased risk of mortality. One standard deviation lower CSF Aβ42 (135 pg/mL) was associated with a 89% increased risk of death (95% CI = 1.25–2.86; p = 0.002). This association was not modified by age, sex, education, APOE ε4, and disease severity. There was no evidence of an association of tau CSF biomarkers with mortality. None of the CSF biomarkers were associated with institutionalization. Conclusions Lower CSF Aβ42 is a strong prognostic marker of mortality in AD patients, independently of age or severity of the disease. Whether drugs targeting beta-amyloid peptide could have an effect on mortality of AD patients should be investigated in future clinical trials.
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Griffin EF, Scopel SE, Stephen CA, Holzhauer AC, Vaji MA, Tuckey RA, Berkowitz LA, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA. ApoE-associated modulation of neuroprotection from Aβ-mediated neurodegeneration in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2019; 12:dmm.037218. [PMID: 30683808 PMCID: PMC6398492 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.037218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Allele-specific distinctions in the human apolipoprotein E (APOE) locus represent the best-characterized genetic predictor of Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Expression of isoform APOEε2 is associated with reduced risk, while APOEε3 is neutral and APOEε4 carriers exhibit increased susceptibility. Using Caenorhabditis elegans, we generated a novel suite of humanized transgenic nematodes to facilitate neuronal modeling of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) co-expression in the context of distinct human APOE alleles. We found that co-expression of human APOEε2 with Aβ attenuated Aβ-induced neurodegeneration, whereas expression of the APOEε4 allele had no effect on neurodegeneration, indicating a loss of neuroprotective capacity. Notably, the APOEε3 allele displayed an intermediate phenotype; it was not neuroprotective in young adults but attenuated neurodegeneration in older animals. There was no functional impact from the three APOE isoforms in the absence of Aβ co-expression. Pharmacological treatment that examined neuroprotective effects of APOE alleles on calcium homeostasis showed allele-specific responses to changes in ER-associated calcium dynamics in the Aβ background. Additionally, Aβ suppressed survival, an effect that was rescued by APOEε2 and APOEε3, but not APOEε4. Expression of the APOE alleles in neurons, independent of Aβ, exerted no impact on survival. Taken together, these results illustrate that C. elegans provides a powerful in vivo platform with which to explore how AD-associated neuronal pathways are modulated by distinct APOE gene products in the context of Aβ-associated neurotoxicity. The significance of both ApoE and Aβ to AD highlights the utility of this new pre-clinical model as a means to dissect their functional inter-relationship.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward F Griffin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA
| | - Samuel E Scopel
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA
| | - Cayman A Stephen
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA
| | - Adam C Holzhauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA
| | - Madeline A Vaji
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA
| | - Ryan A Tuckey
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA
| | - Laura A Berkowitz
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA
| | - Kim A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA.,Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center for Research on the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Guy A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870344, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA .,Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center for Research on the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Ferri E, Gussago C, Casati M, Mari D, Rossi PD, Ciccone S, Cesari M, Arosio B. Apolipoprotein E gene in physiological and pathological aging. Mech Ageing Dev 2019; 178:41-45. [PMID: 30658061 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The genetic background plays a role on longevity. The distribution of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) variants (ε2, ε3, ε4) may differ across age groups, especially in the oldest old and despite geographical and ethnic specificities. Since the ε4 variant is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), it might represent an opportunity for exploring the relationship of APOE with physiological and pathological aging. AIM To explore the role played by APOE genotype/alleles on physiological and pathological brain aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted in a cohort of centenarians (n = 106), and two cohorts of octogenarians (without cognitive decline, n = 351 controls; and with AD, n = 294). RESULTS No significant differences in genotype/allele distributions were observed comparing controls to centenarians. The prevalence of ε2/ε3, ε3/ε3, ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4 genotypes were significantly different in centenarians compared to AD. The prevalence of ε2 and ε3 alleles were significantly higher in centenarians, whereas the ε4 was less frequent. The ε4 allele was positively associated with AD, whereas a negative association was found for ε2 and ε3 alleles. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that ε4 allele is strongly associated with AD. APOE significantly affects AD risk, but apparently not longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ferri
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - C Gussago
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - M Casati
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - D Mari
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - P D Rossi
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - S Ciccone
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - M Cesari
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - B Arosio
- Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy.
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