The influence of the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene on childhood IQ, nonverbal reasoning in old age, and lifetime cognitive change

• Published in: Intelligence (Norwood) Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 85 - 92
• Main Authors: Deary, Ian J, Whalley, Lawrence J, St. Clair, David, Breen, Gerome, Leaper, Steve, Lemmon, Helen, Hayward, Caroline, Starr, John M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Orlando, FL Elsevier Inc 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult. Elderly; Ageing; APOE; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; Dementia; Developmental psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Intelligence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Genetics; Cognition; APOE; Intelligence; Ageing; Dementia; Human; Allele; Senescence; Gene; Apolipoprotein E; Follow up study; Intellectual ability; Elderly; Preadolescent; Intelligence quotient
• ISSN: 0160-2896; 1873-7935
• DOI: 10.1016/S0160-2896(02)00114-9

We examined the influence of APOE ε4 allele status on three cognitive outcomes in the same sample of 173 people: (i) IQ (Moray House Test) at age 11 years, (ii) IQ (Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices) at age 77 years, and (iii) change in IQ between age 11 and 77. All participants took part in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932 and were followed-up in 1997–1998. There was no significant main effect of gene status on IQ in youth or old age, nor in cognitive change across the lifespan. Sex had no effect on the three cognitive outcome variables and did not interact with APOE ε4 allele status.