Carmona O, Masuet C, Santiago O, Alía P, Moral E, Alonso‐Magdalena L, Casado V, Arbizu T. Multiple sclerosis and cognitive decline: is ApoE‐4 a surrogate marker?
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 124: 258–263.
© 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Background – The role of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism has been well demonstrated in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer. However, its role in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains unclear.
Aims – The aims of our study were as follows: (i) to assess whether ApoE‐4 might be a surrogate marker of cognitive decline in MS; (ii) to confirm the presence of cognitive impairment in mildly disabled patients treated with interferon‐beta; and (iii) to analyse the correlation between cognitive disturbances and clinical variables.
Material and methods – Fifty relapsing‐remitting MS patients underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests and were genotyped for ApoE. Their scores were compared with those of 35 controls.
Results – No association was found between ApoE‐4 and cognitive impairment. Significant differences in most domains were observed between MS and the control group. Cognitive decline was not related to disability progression.
Conclusion – No association between cognitive impairment and ApoE‐4 or clinical markers was detected in our MS patients.