TY - JOUR
T1 - The APOE ε4 allele increases the risk of impaired spatial working memory in obstructive sleep apnea
AU - Cosentino, F. I I
AU - Bosco, Paolo
AU - Drago, Valeria
AU - Prestianni, Giuseppina
AU - Lanuzza, Bartolo
AU - Iero, Ivan
AU - Tripodi, Mariangela
AU - Spada, Rosario S.
AU - Toscano, Giuseppe
AU - Caraci, Filippo
AU - Ferri, Raffaele
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - Background: Contradictory data have been published on the influence of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aims of this study were to confirm the presence of specific neuropsychological changes in OSA patients carrying the APOE ε4 allele and to clarify if these changes are due to the sole presence of this allele or to its interactions with OSA pathology. Methods: The APOE genotype was examined in 123 patients with OSA and in 121 controls, together with a series of neuropsychological tests. Results: OSA and control subjects had similar APOE genotype and allele distribution, but when neuropsychological tests were considered, OSA patients showed significantly lower values for verbal long-term (delayed free recall at the Rey auditory-verbal learning test) and working memory (bisyllabic words). Moreover, spatial span was found to be lower in OSA ε4 allele carriers than in non-carriers; this difference was not observed in controls. Conclusions: This study confirms the presence of a verbal memory impairment in OSA patients and provides evidence for a significant interaction of APOE ε4 allele and OSA on frontal lobe function in adults, possibly mediated by the presence of specific frontal lobe neuroanatomical changes in these patients.
AB - Background: Contradictory data have been published on the influence of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aims of this study were to confirm the presence of specific neuropsychological changes in OSA patients carrying the APOE ε4 allele and to clarify if these changes are due to the sole presence of this allele or to its interactions with OSA pathology. Methods: The APOE genotype was examined in 123 patients with OSA and in 121 controls, together with a series of neuropsychological tests. Results: OSA and control subjects had similar APOE genotype and allele distribution, but when neuropsychological tests were considered, OSA patients showed significantly lower values for verbal long-term (delayed free recall at the Rey auditory-verbal learning test) and working memory (bisyllabic words). Moreover, spatial span was found to be lower in OSA ε4 allele carriers than in non-carriers; this difference was not observed in controls. Conclusions: This study confirms the presence of a verbal memory impairment in OSA patients and provides evidence for a significant interaction of APOE ε4 allele and OSA on frontal lobe function in adults, possibly mediated by the presence of specific frontal lobe neuroanatomical changes in these patients.
KW - ε4 allele
KW - Apolipoprotein E
KW - Frontal lobe functions
KW - Neuropsychological tests
KW - Obstructive sleep apnea
KW - Spatial working memory
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U2 - 10.1016/j.sleep.2007.10.015
DO - 10.1016/j.sleep.2007.10.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 18083630
AN - SCOPUS:55549144757
VL - 9
SP - 831
EP - 839
JO - Sleep Medicine
JF - Sleep Medicine
SN - 1389-9457
IS - 8
ER -