Association between serum beta-carotene levels and decline of cognitive function in high-functioning older persons with or without apolipoprotein E 4 alleles: MacArthur studies of successful aging.

Authors: Hu P; Bretsky P; Crimmins EM; Guralnik JM; Reuben DB; Seeman TE

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Growing evidence from animal studies suggests an interaction between antioxidants and apolipoprotein E (APOE) alleles on cognitive functioning. We used data from a 7-year cohort study of high-functioning older persons to explore whether the associations between serum beta-carotene level and subsequent decline of cognitive function differed by APOE 4 genotype. METHODS: Baseline information on sociodemographic characteristics, serum beta-carotene level, inflammation markers, APOE genotype, and cognitive functioning measured by a 9-item Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) was obtained in 455 survivors. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relation between high serum beta-carotene level and risk of SPMSQ score decline in participants with or without APOE 4 alleles, while adjusting for age, sex, race, baseline SPMSQ score, and other covariates. RESULTS: Nine (2%) study participants had homozygous and 97 (21%) had heterozygous APOE 4 alleles. Two hundred forty-nine (55%) had decline of SPMSQ scores during the follow-up. The presence of an APOE 4 allele was associated with higher risk and larger magnitude of SPMSQ score decline. The adjusted odds ratio of high beta-carotene level for cognitive decline was 0.11 (95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.57) in participants with at least one APOE 4 allele and 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.54-1.47) among those who were APOE 4 negative. CONCLUSION: Among high-functioning older persons, antioxidants and beta-carotene in particular may offer protection from cognitive decline in persons with greater genetic susceptibility as evidenced by the presence of the APOE 4 allele.

Keywords: *Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aging/*physiology; Alleles; Apolipoprotein E4; Apolipoproteins E/blood/*genetics; Biological Markers/blood; Cognition Disorders/*blood/genetics; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Genotype; Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; beta Carotene/*blood
Journal: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
Volume: 61
Issue: 6
Pages: 616-20
Date: June 27, 2006
PMID: 16799145
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Citation:

Hu P, Bretsky P, Crimmins EM, Guralnik JM, Reuben DB, Seeman TE (2006) Association between serum beta-carotene levels and decline of cognitive function in high-functioning older persons with or without apolipoprotein E 4 alleles: MacArthur studies of successful aging. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences 61: 616-20.


Lifespan Factors:
  • APOE apolipoprotein E

  • Longevity Variant Associations (p-value):
  • APOE4 (0.71)
  • -

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