Cholesterol and APOE genotype interact to influence Alzheimer disease progression

• Published in: Neurology Vol. 62; no. 10; pp. 1869 - 1871
• Main Authors: EVANS, R. M, HUI, S, PERKINS, A, LAHIRI, D. K, POIRIER, J, FARLOW, M. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 25-05-2004
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer Disease - blood; Alzheimer Disease - complications; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Apolipoprotein E4; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Cholesterol - blood; Disease Progression; Double-Blind Method; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II - blood; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II - complications; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II - genetics; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Neuroprotective Agents - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Tacrine - therapeutic use; Nervous system diseases; Alzheimer disease; Central nervous system disease; Lipids; Genotype; Degenerative disease; Cholesterol; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0028-3878; 1526-632X
• DOI: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000125323.15458.3F

In this retrospective analysis of 443 Alzheimer disease (AD) patients from a 30-week tacrine trial, change in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale score from baseline to final value was significantly associated with a total serum cholesterol/APOE genotype interaction. Disease progression in the no-APOE epsilon4 allele/high-cholesterol subgroup was greater than in the normal-cholesterol subgroups with or without epsilon4. Cholesterol levels and APOE genotype may interact to affect AD progression. The results are consistent with preclinical data on cholesterol's effects in AD.