Apolipoprotein ɛ4 Affects Multiple Domains of Neuropsychological Functioning in a Sample of Elderly Hispanics

Issue title: Translational Research and Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration: Challenges for Latin America

Guest editors: K.S. Jagannatha Rao, Gabrielle B. Britton, Luisa Lilia Rocha Arrieta, Norberto Garcia-Cairasco, Alberto Lazarowski, Adrián Palacios, Antoni Camins Espuny and Ricardo B. Maccioni

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Oviedo, Diana C.^{a; b} | Perez-Lao, Ambar R.^{a; b} | Flores-Cuadra, Julio A.^b | Villarreal, Alcibiades E.^b | Carreira, Maria B.^b | Grajales, Shantal A.^b | Britton, Gabrielle B.^{b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Escuela de Psicología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua (USMA), Panamá | [b] Centro de Neurociencia y Unidad de Investigación Clínica, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Panamá

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Gabrielle B. Britton, INDICASAT AIP, Centro de Neurociencia y Unidad de Investigación Clínica, Ciudad del Saber #208, Panamá. Tel.: +507 5170735; Fax: +507 5070000; E-mail: gbritton@indicasat.org.pa.

Abstract: Apolipoprotein ɛ4 allele (APOE ɛ4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but inconsistencies have arisen in studies with Hispanics. The objective of this study was to explore APOE ɛ4 expression and cognitive function in a sample of Panamanian older adults, including healthy controls, mild cognitive impairment, and AD. Participants with at least one copy of APOE ɛ4 had a significantly lower performance in global cognition, verbal memory, executive functions, visuospatial abilities, regardless of diagnosis. The present study contributes to the understanding of the association of APOE ɛ4 and impairment in specific cognitive domains in elderly Hispanics.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, biomarkers, cognition, memory deficits

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-200921

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 82, no. s1, pp. S313-S319, 2021