Interactions between the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele status and adverse childhood experiences on depressive symptoms in older adults

• Published in: European journal of psychotraumatology 2015, Vol.6, p.25178-25178
• Main Authors: Park, Subin, Nam, Yoon-Young, Sim, Yoojin, Hong, Jin Pyo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Short Communication
• ISSN: 2000-8066; 2000-8198; 2000-8066
• DOI: 10.3402/ejpt.v6.25178

The influence of childhood adversity on depression is modulated by genetic vulnerability. The apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE-ε4) allele is a strong genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because late-life depressive symptoms could be a part of the preclinical course of AD, the APOE-ε4 allele may contribute to depression in old age. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an APOE-ε4 carrier status was associated with depressive symptoms in older adults and to detect the gene-environment interaction between APOE-ε4 status and childhood adversity in relation to depressive symptoms in old age. The participants consisted of 137 older adults (age range 50-70) without any psychiatric history or clinically significant cognitive impairment. APOE genotypes and measures of childhood adversity and depressive symptoms were obtained. There was a significant positive association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) scores and depressive symptoms (B=0.60; 95% CI=0.26, 0.93 for a 1 score increase in ACE scores; p=0.001). Although APOE-ε4 status per se was not associated with depressive symptoms, there was a significant interaction of the ACE scores with the APOE genotype in relation to depressive symptoms (B=0.78; 95% CI=0.02, 1.55; p=0.044). There was a significantly higher effect of childhood adversity on depressive symptoms in APOE-ε4 carriers than non-carriers (t=2.13, p=0.035). Our results suggest that the APOE-ε4 may modulate the association between childhood adversity and depressive symptoms in older adults. However, more research in a larger sample is needed to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the APOE-ε4, childhood adversity, and depression.