APOE genotype, hippocampus, and cognitive markers of Alzheimer's disease in American Indians: Data from the Strong Heart Study

Alzheimers Dement. 2022 Dec;18(12):2518-2526. doi: 10.1002/alz.12573. Epub 2022 Feb 10.

Abstract

Background: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele confers higher risk of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but differs by race/ethnicity. We examined this association in American Indians.

Methods: The Strong Heart Study is a population-based cohort of American Indians who were 64 to 95 years of age in 2010 to 2013. APOE ε4 status, brain imaging, and neuropsychological testing was collected in N = 811 individuals. Summary statistics, graphics, and generalized linear regressions-adjusted for sociodemographics, clinical features, and intracranial volume with bootstrap variance estimator-compared APOE ε4 carriers with non-carriers.

Results: APOE ε4 carriers comprised 22% of the population (0.7% homozygotes). Participants were mean 73 years, 67% female, and 54% had some college education. The majority were obese (>50%), hypertensive (>80%), and diabetic (>50%). Neither imaging findings nor multidomain cognitive testing showed any substantive differences between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers.

Conclusion: We found no evidence of neurodegenerative risk from APOE ε4 in American Indians. Additional studies are needed to examine potential protective features.

Keywords: APOE genotype; Alzheimer's disease; cerebral atrophy; cognitive impairment; vascular dementia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • American Indian or Alaska Native
  • Apolipoprotein E4 / genetics
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Cognition
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hippocampus
  • Humans
  • Male

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein E4
  • Apolipoproteins E