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Does Apolipoprotein E Influence Learning and Memory in the Nondemented Oldest Old?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2005

Anne Salo ,
Raija Ylikoski ,
Auli Verkkoniemi ,
Tuomo Polvikoski ,
Kati Juva ,
Sari Rastas ,
Kimmo Kontula ,
Katariina Kainulainen ,
Leena Niinistö  and
Irma-Leena Notkola
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Anne Salo
Affiliation:
Kauniala Hospital, Kauniainen, Finland
Raija Ylikoski
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Auli Verkkoniemi
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Tuomo Polvikoski
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Kati Juva
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Sari Rastas
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Kimmo Kontula
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Katariina Kainulainen
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Leena Niinistö
Affiliation:
Katriina Geriatric Hospital, Vantaa, Finland
Irma-Leena Notkola
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Raimo Sulkava
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health and General Practice and Department of Medicine, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
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Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) ε4 and ε2 alleles to learning and memory performances in the nondemented oldest old. Forty-six nondemented persons aged 85 years or over from a randomly selected group of 128 subjects in Vantaa, Finland, were studied. ApoE genotyping was performed using the minisequencing technique. A structured clinical examination and interview were carried out. The test variables studied were learning and memory scores (from the Fuld Object-Memory Evaluation), verbal fluency, and conceptualization (the Similarities subtest of the WAIS-R). We compared apoE-ε4 carriers to noncarriers and apoE-ε2 carriers to noncarrirs. No statistically significant differences were found in any of the test variables. The results failed to confirm the hypotheses that poor cognitive performance is associated with the apoE-ε4 allele and good performance with the apoE-ε2 allele in the oldest old. This suggests that the apoE alleles do not have a detectable relationship to learning and memory in nondemented very elderly people.

Keywords

Apolipoprotein E ε4 alleleε2 allelenondemented oldest oldlearningmemoryverbal fluencyconceptualization
Type
Articles
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , December 2001 , pp. 451 - 459
Copyright
© 2001 International Psychogeriatric Association

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