APOE ε4 Modulation of Training Outcomes in Several Cognitive Domains in a Sample of Cognitively Intact Older Adults

• Published in: Journal of Alzheimer's disease Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. 1201 - 1215
• Main Authors: López-Higes, Ramón, Rodríguez-Rojo, Inmaculada C., Prados, José M., Montejo, Pedro, Del-Río, David, Delgado-Losada, María Luisa, Montenegro, Mercedes, López-Sanz, David, Barabash, Ana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 2017
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - genetics; Apolipoprotein E4 - genetics; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive Therapy; Comprehension; Female; Genotype; Humans; Language; Male; Mental Status and Dementia Tests; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; neuropsychology; Apolipoprotein E; elderly; cognitive training
• ISSN: 1387-2877; 1875-8908
• DOI: 10.3233/JAD-161014

Background: Most research points to the ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene as the most recognizable genetic risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. It has been also suggested that the APOE ɛ4 allele has a negative influence on cognitive functioning, which begins long before cognitive impairment becomes manifest. However, still, little is known about the APOE ɛ4 interaction with cognitive intervention programs. Objective: The main goal of this study was to explore whether there was a differential APOE genotype modulation effect after cognitive training in different domains, such as language comprehension, executive functions, and memory. Contrary to other studies, hippocampal volume was controlled for. Methods: Fifty older adults (65+ years; 30 women and 20 men) participated in a multi-domain cognitive training that involved 30 sessions taking place over 12 weeks. Half of the participants were APOE ɛ4 carriers. The control group was matched in age, gender, normalized hippocampal volume, cognitive reserve, Mini-Mental State Examination score, and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Version. Results: The study revealed that there were consistent treatment benefits in complex sentence comprehension (noncanonical sentences and sentences with two propositions), a domain that was not directly trained, but only in the A POE ɛ4 noncarrier group. Conclusion: Genetic profile modulates training outcomes in sentence comprehension.