Sex And APOE Ε2 Interactive Effects On The Longitudinal Change In Cognition In A Population-Based Cohort Of Older Adults With Vascular Risk Factors
Our brains change as we age, and how quickly our memory and thinking skills decline varies greatly among individuals. Genetics play a significant role in this process. One important gene is called APOE, which comes in different versions, or alleles. While one version, APOE ε4, is known to increase the risk for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, another version, APOE ε2, has generally been thought to offer protection against cognitive decline.
However, new research exploring older adults who already have health issues affecting their blood vessels (like high blood pressure or diabetes), sheds a more nuanced light on APOE ε2. This study followed participants for several years, examining how their cognitive abilities changed over time. Contrary to the long-held belief, the findings suggest that APOE ε2 does not consistently provide a protective effect on thinking skills in this group.
Interestingly, the study observed a specific pattern: for aging men carrying the APOE ε2 variant, there appeared to be a detrimental effect on verbal memory. For women with the same genetic variant, no significant protective impacts were found across various cognitive areas. This highlights that the influence of our genes on brain health can be complex and may differ significantly between sexes, especially when other health conditions are present. Understanding these intricate interactions is crucial for developing more personalized approaches to maintaining brain health as we age.
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