APOE epsilon 4 allele modifies the association of lead exposure with age-related cognitive decline in older individuals

作者：Prada Diddier; Colicino Elena; Power Melinda C; Weisskopf Marc G; Zhong Jia; Hou Lifang; Spiro Avron III; Vokonas Pantel; Brenan Kasey; Herrera Luis A; Schwartz Joel; Baccarelli Andrea A^*

来源：Environmental Research, 2016, 151: 101-105.

DOI：10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.034

• APOE-epsilon epsilon 4 allele
• epsilon 4 epsilon 4 haplotype
• Aging
• Lead
• Age-related
• Cognitive decline

Background: Continuing chronic and sporadic high-level of lead exposure in some regions in the U.S. has directed public attention to the effects of lead on human health. Long-term lead exposure has been associated with faster cognitive decline in older individuals; however, genetic susceptibility to lead related cognitive decline during aging has been poorly studied.
Methods: We determined the interaction of APOE-epsilon variants and environmental lead exposure in relation to age-related cognitive decline. We measured tibia bone lead by K-shell-x-ray fluorescence, APOE-epsilon variants by multiplex PCR and global cognitive z-scores in 489 men from the VA-Normative Aging Study. To determine global cognitive z-scores we incorporated multiple cognitive assessments, including word list memory task, digit span backwards, verbal fluency test, sum of drawings, and pattern comparison task, which were assessed at multiple visits. We used linear mixed-effect models with random intercepts for individual and for cognitive test.
Results: An interquartile range (IQR:14.23 mu g/g) increase in tibia lead concentration was associated with a 0.06 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: -0.11 to -0.01) lower global cognition z-score. In the presence of both epsilon 4 alleles, one IQR increase in tibia lead was associated with 0.57 (95%CI: -0.97 to -0.16; p-value for interaction: 0.03) lower total cognition z-score. A borderline association was observed in presence of one epsilon 4 allele (Estimate-effect per 1-IQR increase: -0.11, 95%CI: -0.22, 0.01) as well as lack of association in individuals without APOE epsilon 4 allele.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that individuals carrying both epsilon 4 alleles are more susceptible to lead impact on global cognitive decline during aging.

• 出版日期2016-11
• 单位西北大学