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APOE polymorphism, socioeconomic status and cognitive function in mid-life

The Whitehall II longitudinal study

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the common apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) variants with cognitive function and cognitive decline in adult mid-life and explore the possibility that APOE genotype mediates the link between socioeconomic status (SES) and cognitive function.

Methods

Data on cognitive function, as measured by five cognitive tests, together with APOE genotype were obtained in an occupational cohort (the Whitehall II study) of 6,004 participants aged 44–69 years (1997–1999). Cognitive change was examined in 2,717 participants who had cognitive function measured at baseline (1991–1993).

Results

SES based on civil service employment grade was strongly related to cognitive function. There was no association between APOE genotype and employment grade. In women, participants with APOE-ɛ4 had a lower memory score (p<0.05), but the result was sensitive to data from a small number of individuals. A marginal cross-sectional difference in the semantic fluency score was found (p=0.07), and there was a relative decline at follow-up (p<0.001, net change=−1.19; 95% CI, −1.90 to −0.49) in those with APOE-ɛ4 genotypes.

Conclusions

APOE-ɛ4 has little influence on cognitive decline in mid-life, whereas SES is a strong determinant, although APOE genotype may emerge as an important factor in cognitive function in later life.

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Acknowledgements

The Whitehall II study has been supported by grants from the Medical Research Council; British Heart Foundation; Health and Safety Executive; Department of Health; National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (HL36310), US, NIH: National Institute on Aging (AG13196), US, NIH; Agency for Health Care Policy Research (HS06516); and the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation Research Networks on Successful Midlife Development and Socioeconomic Status and Health. M.M. is supported by an MRC Research Professorship. S.E.H, P.S.T. and E.H. are supported by the British Heart Foundation (RG2000/015). We also thank all participating civil service departments and their welfare, personnel and establishment officers; the Occupational Health and Safety Agency; the Council of Civil Service Unions; and all participating civil servants in the Whitehall II study: Paul Clarke, Martin Shipley, Susan Yazdgerdi and other members of the Whitehall II study team.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Epidemiology and Public Health, International Centre for Health and Society, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    J. H. Zhao PhD, E. J. Brunner PhD, M. Kumari PhD, A. Singh-Manoux PhD & M. G. Marmot PhD, MPH, MB BS, FFPHM

  2. Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, British Heart Foundation Laboratories, Dept. of Medicine, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, London, UK

    E. Hawe, P. J. Talmud DSc & S. E. Humphries PhD, MRCP, FRCPath

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  1. J. H. Zhao PhD
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  2. E. J. Brunner PhD
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  3. M. Kumari PhD
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  4. A. Singh-Manoux PhD
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  5. E. Hawe
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  6. P. J. Talmud DSc
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  7. M. G. Marmot PhD, MPH, MB BS, FFPHM
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  8. S. E. Humphries PhD, MRCP, FRCPath
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Correspondence to J. H. Zhao PhD.

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Zhao, J.H., Brunner, E.J., Kumari, M. et al. APOE polymorphism, socioeconomic status and cognitive function in mid-life. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 40, 557–563 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0925-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0925-y

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