The Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype and cognitive function in healthy young adults

• Main Authors: Sang-Yu Lin, 林桑伃
• Other Authors: Yu-Ling Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/67901222955506243901

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 心理學研究所 === 102 === Background: The Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 genotype has been associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The majority of the research has focused on the change of cognitive functioning and brain in association with the ApoE genotype in patients with AD, non-demented elderly and middle-aged adults, and evidence has shown that the ApoE ε4 genotype was associated with negative changes of cognitive functioning and brain. Previous studies have also found negative brain changes associated with the ApoE ε4 genotype in young adults; however, the related studies were relatively scarce, and the behavioral findings were inconsistent. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological function in association with the ApoE genotype in a sample of Taiwanese young adults in order to increase the understanding of the effect of ApoE on cognition in the youth cohort. The findings would advance our understanding on the role of ApoE in relation to the development of AD and help clarify whether the effect of ApoE on cognition could be observed in early developing process or only in aging process. Methods: The study recruited 162 healthy young adults and analyzed their ApoE genotype. Among them, 35 healthy young adults aged from 20 to 29 were selected (16 ε4 carriers and 19 non-ε4 carriers) and underwent a comprehensive assessment of neuropsychological function. The neuropsychological assessment included general intelligence, language, visuospatial construction, learning and memory, executive function, working memory, attention, and processing speed. Results: Compared to ApoE non- ε4 group, the ε4 group performed more poorly on the Color-Word Inference Test (the Inhibition/Switching condition) from The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System and the Semantic Associated Verbal Fluency test, indicating a poorer executive function in Taiwanese young ApoE ε4 carriers. Conclusion: The present study showed a negative effect of ApoE ε4 genotype on executive function in Taiwanese young adults, indicating an early effect of ApoE on cognition during the developing process. The result may imply a negative effect of ApoE ε4 on brain functioning in development, which makes the brain more vulnerable to later normal and/or pathological aging process.