Assessing for interaction between APOE ε4, sex and lifestyle on cognitive abilities

Lyall, D. M. et al. (2019) Assessing for interaction between APOE ε4, sex and lifestyle on cognitive abilities. Neurology, 92, e2691-e2698. (doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000007551) (PMID:31028125) (PMCID:PMC6556094)

Abstract

Objective: To test for interactions between APOE ε4 genotype and lifestyle factors on worse cognitive abilities in UK Biobank. Methods: Using UK Biobank cohort data, we tested for interactions between APOE ε4 allele presence, lifestyle factors of alcohol intake, smoking, total physical activity and obesity, and sex, on cognitive tests of reasoning, information processing speed, and executive function (n range = 70,988–324,725 depending on the test). We statistically adjusted for potential confounders of age, sex, deprivation, cardiometabolic conditions, and educational attainment. Results: There were significant associations between APOE ε4 and worse cognitive abilities, independent of potential confounders, and between lifestyle risk factors and worse cognitive abilities; however, there were no interactions at multiple correction-adjusted p < 0.05, against our hypotheses. Conclusions: Our results do not provide support for the idea that ε4 genotype increases vulnerability to the negative effects of lifestyle risk factors on cognitive ability, but rather support a primarily outright association between APOE ε4 genotype and worse cognitive ability.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gill, Professor Jason and Smith, Professor Daniel and Lyall, Dr Laura and Cavanagh, Professor Jonathan and Ward, Dr Joey and Celis, Dr Carlos and Pell, Professor Jill and Mackay, Professor Daniel and Graham, Mr Christopher and Sattar, Professor Naveed and Strawbridge, Dr Rona and Lyall, Dr Donald and Graham, Dr Nicholas
• Authors: Lyall, D. M., Celis-Morales, C., Lyall, L. M., Graham, C., Graham, N., Mackay, D. F., Strawbridge, R. J., Ward, J., Gill, J. M., Sattar, N., Cavanagh, J., Smith, D. J., and Pell, J. P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
• Research Centre: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
• Journal Name: Neurology
• Publisher: American Academy of Neurology
• ISSN: 0028-3878
• ISSN (Online): 1526-632X
• Published Online: 26 April 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Neurology
• First Published: First published in Neurology 92:e2691-e2698
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
302957	0	Mental Health Data Pathfinder	Daniel Smith	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_PC_17217	HW - Mental Health and Wellbeing
302131	0	Understanding the excess risk of cardiometabolic disease in individuals with serious mental illness	Jill Pell	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MR/S003061/1	HW - Public Health