APOE genotype predicts depression in women with Alzheimer's disease: A retrospective study

Objective The association between the APOE epsilon 4 allele and depression was investigated in a retrospective study of 323 AD patients. Methods Patients were divided into demographically comparable groups based on the presence or absence of depression. Results Results showed that the frequency of APOE epsilon 4 allele was significantly higher in the depressed vs non-depressed AD patients (72% and 58%, respectively), and an interaction revealed that women possessing the APOE epsilon 4 allele were almost four times more likely to be depressed than those without the epsilon 4 allele. Conclusion Results are consistent with recent suggestions that the APOE epsilon 4 genotype may be over-represented among depressed women with AD and highlight the need for additional research investigating the links between APOE genotype, mood, and gender. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.