APOE Variant (rs405509) might Modulate the Effect of Sex and Educational Level on Cognitive Impairment Risk in a Taiwanese Population

Tsui-Wen Hsu, Disline Manli Tantoh, Pang-Li Liu, Pei-Hsin Chen, Oswald Ndi Nfor, Ming-Chih Chou, Long-Yau Lin and Yung-Po Liaw
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Tsui-Wen Hsu: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Disline Manli Tantoh: Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Pang-Li Liu: Department of Medical Sociology and Social Work, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Pei-Hsin Chen: Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Oswald Ndi Nfor: Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Ming-Chih Chou: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Long-Yau Lin: School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Yung-Po Liaw: Department of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-10

Abstract: Education, sex, and the APOE-rs405509 variant are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive performance. We investigated if the rs405509 TT, TG, and GG genotypes modulate the effect of sex and education on cognitive impairment in Taiwanese adults. Data on cognitive health (defined by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores) and rs405509 were from Taiwan Biobank. Participants included 2105 men and 2027 women with a mean age of 64 years. Education below university level was significantly associated with lower MMSE scores. The odds ratios (ORs) were 1.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38–2.41 for senior high school, 3.39; 95% CI 2.50–4.59 for junior high school, and 11.94; 95% CI 9.91–15.50 for elementary school and below ( p -trend < 0.05). The association between MMSE score and sex was significant only in the lowest educational group (elementary and below), with lower odds of having a low MMSE score in men compared to women (OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.34–0.77). After stratification by rs405509 genotypes, this association was significant only among TT genotype carriers (OR = 0.481; CI = 0.253–0.915). In conclusion, a significant association between MMSE score and sex was observed in the lowest educational group, especially among carriers of rs405509 TT genotypes.

Keywords: education; sex; MMSE; APOE; rs405509 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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