Early-Onset and Late-Onset Depression Are Independent of the Genetic Polymorphism of Apolipoprotein E

The recently shown association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and depressive illness has been challenged by subsequent studies. However, controversial results may derive from the different diagnostic criteria used for depression and from the small numbers of depressed patients included in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders 1999-07, Vol.10 (4), p.258-261
Main Authors: Papassotiropoulos, Andreas, Bagli, Metin, Jessen, Frank, Rao, Marie Luise, Schwab, Sibylle G., Heun, Reinhard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease - genetics
Apolipoprotein E4
Apolipoproteins E - genetics
Biological and medical sciences
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Depressive Disorder - genetics
Female
Genotype
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neurology
Original Research Article
Polymorphism, Genetic
Survival Analysis
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Summary:The recently shown association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and depressive illness has been challenged by subsequent studies. However, controversial results may derive from the different diagnostic criteria used for depression and from the small numbers of depressed patients included in the studies. We examined the association between depression and the genetic polymorphism of APOE in a large sample of depressed patients, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, and healthy controls following clear definitions for late-life depression. The cumulative incidence of depression depending on the age at onset of the first episode was examined by survival analysis. Our data do not disconfirm the hypothesis of depression sharing some common pathophysiologic features with AD, however, it seems very unlikely that the APOE genotype will elucidate the assumed common mechanisms.
ISSN:1420-8008
1421-9824
DOI:10.1159/000017129