Abstract
Objective
We evaluated the influence of the APOE-ε4 allele on post-concussive symptoms in military Veterans with a remote history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Method
Participants (N = 77) were administered neuropsychiatric measures, on average, approximately 5 years following their most recent mTBI and provided a DNA sample for APOE genotyping. Veterans were divided into two groups based on their ε4 status (n = 14 ε4+, n = 63 ε4–). The Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) was the primary outcome measure, from which a total score was derived, as well as three symptom clusters (somatic, cognitive, and affective).
Results
ANCOVAs showed a significant main effect of ε4 genotype on the NSI total score and somatic symptom cluster after adjusting for posttraumatic stress symptoms and mTBI history (p = .019–.028, ηp2 = .064–.073), such that ε4+ Veterans endorsed significantly greater symptoms than ε4– Veterans.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that genetic risk may help to explain the poorer long-term outcomes often observed in this population.
Association of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury With and Without Loss of Consciousness With Dementia in US Military Veterans
