Association of CSF apolipoprotein E, A beta 42 and cognition in Alzheimer's disease

A significant association between CSF Abeta42 and cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) homozygous for the is an element of3 allele of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) has been described. In this study we extended our observations on apoE, as another plaque component, and investigated the association between CSF apoE concentrations and cognitive performance after stratification for the apoE genotype in 62 patients with AD, 19 other forms of dementia and 18 controls. CSF Abeta42 and apoE concentrations were significantly and positively associated with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in AD (Abeta42: r = 0.332; P = 0.026; apoE: r = 0.386; P = 0.006). For Abeta42 this association was exclusively present in 6 homozygotes (r = 0.44; P = 0.014), whereas apoE was correlated with MMSE in is an element of4 hetero- or homozygotes subjects (is an element of4/is an element ofX: r = 0.638 P = 0.004: is an element of4/is an element of4; r = 0.812; P = 0.05). No association was observed between CSF concentrations of Abeta42 and apoE. The significant relationship between MMSE and CSF Abeta42 in is an element of3 homozygotes and apoE in is an element of4 hetero- and homozygotes respectively may suggest that both proteins may be associated independently from each other with cognitive decline. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.