Sex Differences in Neuropsychological Test Performance in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Influence of the ApoE Genotype

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Tensil ◽  
Johannes B. Hessler ◽  
Maria Gutsmiedl ◽  
Lina Riedl ◽  
Timo Grimmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Apoe Genotype

scholarly journals Inflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Do Sex and APOE Matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 627-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Duarte-Guterman ◽  
Arianne Y. Albert ◽  
Amy M. Inkster ◽  
Cindy K. Barha ◽  
Liisa A.M. Galea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
E4 Allele ◽  
Tissue Origin

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects females with steeper cognitive decline and more neuropathology compared to males, which is exacerbated in females carrying the APOE ɛ4 allele. The risk of developing AD is also higher in female APOE ɛ4 carriers in earlier age groups (aged 65–75), and the progression from cognitively normal to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to AD may be influenced by sex. Inflammation is observed in AD and is related to aging, stress, and neuroplasticity, and although studies are scarce, sex differences are noted in inflammation. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate underlying physiological inflammatory mechanisms that may help explain why there are sex differences in AD and APOE ɛ4 carriers. Methods: We investigated, using the ADNI database, the effect of sex and APOE genotype (non-carriers or carriers of 1 and 2 APOE ɛ4 alleles) and sex and diagnosis (cognitively normal (CN), MCI, AD) on CSF (N = 279) and plasma (N = 527) markers of stress and inflammation. Results: We found CSF IL-16 and IL-8 levels differed by sex and APOE genotype, as IL-16 was higher in female APOE ɛ4 carriers compared to non-carriers, while the opposite pattern was observed in males with IL-8. Furthermore, females had on average higher levels of plasma CRP and ICAM1 but lower levels of CSF ICAM1, IL-8, IL-16, and IgA than males. Carrying APOE ɛ4 alleles and diagnosis (MCI and AD) decreased plasma CRP in both sexes. Conclusion: Sex and APOE genotype differences in CSF and plasma inflammatory biomarkers support that the underlying physiological changes during aging differ by sex and tissue origin.

Detection of dementia of the Alzheimer type in a population-based sample: Neuropsychological test performance

1995 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 252-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah A. Cahn ◽  
David P. Salmon ◽  
Nelson Butters ◽  
Wigbert C. Wiederholt ◽  
Jody Corey-Bloom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Logistic Model ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Alzheimer Type

AbstractThe ability to detect dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) in a community-dwelling sample of elderly individuals on the basis of neuropsychological test performance was examined. Three hundred sixty community-dwelling individuals were identified by neurological examination as having probable or possible Alzheimer’s disease, being at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, or having no cognitive impairment. A logistic model comprised of tests of verbal and nonverbal memory, mental flexibility, and confrontation naming correctly classified 82% of DAT subjects and 98% of normal elderly subjects. The logistic model classified 77% of subjects who were diagnosed as at risk for Alzheimer's disease as being cognitively normal. A cross-validation with a clinically based sample of subjects correctly classified 89% of DAT patients and 100% of normal control subjects. The results suggest that psychometric discrimination of dementia may be less accurate in community-dwelling populations than in clinically based samples. (JINS, 1995, I, 252–260.)

scholarly journals Sex and APOE genotype influence Alzheimer’s disease tau neuropathology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Duarte-Guterman ◽  
Arianne Y. Albert ◽  
Cindy K. Barha ◽  
Liisa A.M. Galea
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Brain Atrophy ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Amyloid Beta Protein ◽  
Biological Sex

ABSTRACTAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by severe cognitive decline and pathological changes in the brain (brain atrophy, hyperphosphorylation of tau, and deposition of toxic amyloid-beta protein). Females have worse neuropathology (AD biomarkers and brain atrophy rates) and cognitive decline than males, however biological sex can interact with diagnosis (mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD) and APOE genotype (number of ε4 alleles), although there are discrepancies between studies. Using the ADNI database, we analysed the effect of sex and APOE genotype (number of ε4 alleles) and sex and diagnosis (cognitively normal (CN), MCI, AD) on cognition (memory and executive function), hippocampal volume, CSF amyloid beta, CSF tau and ptau. More males were diagnosed with MCI but there was no sex difference in those diagnosed with AD, suggesting the progression from CN, MCI to AD may be sex-specific. We found, consistent with some studies, that females had higher levels of CSF tau-pathology that was disproportionately affected by APOE genotype compared to males. These results suggest that sex and APOE genotype effects on AD biomarkers may influence sex differences in incidence and progression of MCI and AD. We also detected sex differences in hippocampal volume but the direction was dependent on the method of correction. Females had better memory (including verbal) scores than males, which may suggest a delay in the onset of cognitive decline or diagnosis.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document