Influence of APOE polymorphism on cognitive and behavioural outcome in moderate and severe traumatic brain injury

Aim: To analyse the influence of apolipoprotein (APOE) is an element of 4 status on the cognitive and behavioural functions usually impaired after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In all, 77 patients with TBI selected from 140 consecutive admissions were genotyped for APOE. Each patient was subjected to neuropsychological and neurobehavioural assessment at least 6 months after injury. Results: Performance of participants carrying the is an element of 4 allele was notably worse on verbal memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test), motor speed, fine motor coordination, visual scanning, attention and mental flexibility (Grooved Pegboard, Symbol Digit Modalities Test and part B of the Trail Making Test) and showed considerably more neurobehavioural disturbances (Neurobehavioral Rating Scale Revised) than the group without the is an element of 4 allele. Conclusions: In particular, performance on neuropsychological tasks that are presumed to be related to temporal lobe, frontal lobe and white matter integrity is worse in patients with the APOE is an element of 4 allele than in those without it. More neurobehavioural disturbances are observed in APOE is an element of 4 carriers than in APOE is an element of 2 and is an element of 3 carriers.