HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vanhanen, M. Articles by Laakso, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vanhanen, M. Articles by Laakso, M.

APOE-4 is associated with weight loss in women with AD

A population-based study

From the Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience of the Kuopio University Hospital (Drs. Vanhanen, Koivisto, Hänninen, and Soininen) and the University of Kuopio (Drs. Kivipelto, M.P. Laakso, and Soininen); the Department of Medicine of the Kuopio University Hospital (Drs. Kuusisto and M. Laakso) and the University of Kuopio (Drs. Mykkänen and M. Laakso); the Department of Community Health and General Practice of the University of Kuopio (Dr. Helkala); and the Department of Internal Medicine (Drs. Kervinen and Kesäniemi) and Biocenter Oulu (Dr. Kervinen) of the University of Oulu, Finland.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Matti Vanhanen, Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, POB 1777, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; e-mail: matti.vanhanen{at}kuh.fi

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the APOE-4 allele is associated with weight loss in patients with AD or in nondemented elderly subjects. Background: Weight loss has been considered a typical feature of AD. APOE-4 is a risk factor for AD and was recently proposed to be associated with weight loss in elderly women. It is not known whether APOE-4 is associated with weight loss in patients with AD or in the general population.

METHODS: Weight and BMI measurements at an average interval of 3.5 years and APOE phenotype determination were performed in an elderly population (n = 980), including 46 patients with AD and 911 control subjects at the end of the follow-up.

RESULTS: On average, patients with AD with the 4 allele lost 1.9 ± 4.0 kg (BMI 0.8 ± 1.8 kg/m²) whereas 4 noncarriers gained 1.2 ± 3.8 kg (BMI 0.4 ± 1.5 kg/m²) (both p < 0.05), after controlling for diabetes and exercise. However, when men and women were analyzed separately, weight loss was observed only in those women with AD with the 4 allele. Clinically significant weight loss, defined as loss of 5% of body weight, occurred more frequently in both patients with AD (30% versus 6%; p < 0.05) and control subjects (28% versus 18%; p < 0.001) carrying the 4 allele.

CONCLUSIONS: The APOE-4 allele may contribute to the unexplained weight loss in AD, especially in women.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. A. Beydoun, A. Lhotsky, Y. Wang, G. D. Forno, Y. An, E. J. Metter, L. Ferrucci, R. O'Brien, and A. B. Zonderman Association of Adiposity Status and Changes in Early to Mid-Adulthood With Incidence of Alzheimer's Disease Am. J. Epidemiol., November 15, 2008; 168(10): 1179 - 1189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Grundman Weight Loss in the Elderly May Be a Sign of Impending Dementia Arch Neurol, January 1, 2005; 62(1): 20 - 22. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Stewart, K. Masaki, Q.-L. Xue, R. Peila, H. Petrovitch, L. R. White, and L. J. Launer A 32-Year Prospective Study of Change in Body Weight and Incident Dementia: The Honolulu-Asia Aging Study Arch Neurol, January 1, 2005; 62(1): 55 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]