IQ, Educational Attainment, Memory and Plasma Lipids: Associations with Apolipoprotein E Genotype in 5995 Children

Taylor, A.E., Guthrie, P.A.I., Smith, G.D., Golding, J., Sattar, N. , Hingorani, A.D., Deanfield, J.E. and Day, I.N.M. (2011) IQ, Educational Attainment, Memory and Plasma Lipids: Associations with Apolipoprotein E Genotype in 5995 Children. Biological Psychiatry, 70(2), pp. 152-158. (doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.10.033)

Abstract

Background: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype (epsilon 2/epsilon 3/epsilon 4: rs429358 epsilon 4 allele; rs7412 epsilon 2 allele) is strongly associated with both lipid levels and Alzheimer's disease. Although there is also evidence of milder cognitive impairment in later life in carriers of the APOE epsilon 4 allele, there have been few studies investigating the impact of APOE genotype on cognitive function in children. Methods: We determined APOE genotype in 5995 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and investigated associations between APOE genotype and plasma lipids (at age 9), IQ (at age 8), memory (at ages 8 and 10), and performance in school attainment tests (at ages 7, 11, and 14). Results: Observed genotype group counts were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (chi(2) p value = .84). There were strong relationships between APOE genotype and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, which follow the same patterns as in adults. There was no strong evidence to suggest that APOE genotype was associated with IQ (all p values >= .46), memory function (p >= .35), or school attainment test results (p >= .28). Conclusion: Although APOE genotype does have strong associations with lipid levels in childhood, there does not seem to be meaningful effects on cognitive performance, suggesting that any detrimental effects of the epsilon 4 allele on cognitive function are not important until later life.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sattar, Professor Naveed
• Authors: Taylor, A.E., Guthrie, P.A.I., Smith, G.D., Golding, J., Sattar, N., Hingorani, A.D., Deanfield, J.E., and Day, I.N.M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Biological Psychiatry
• ISSN: 0006-3223