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Impacts of apolipoprotein E disclosure on healthy Asian older adults: a cohort study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2019

Wei Theng Sng ,
Si Ning Yeo ,
Bernice Xiangting Lin  and
Tih-Shih Lee
Wei Theng Sng*
Affiliation:
Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
Si Ning Yeo
Affiliation:
Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
Bernice Xiangting Lin
Affiliation:
Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
Tih-Shih Lee
Affiliation:
Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Wei Theng Sng, Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857. Phone: +65 9068 3432. Email: sngweitheng@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Background:

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype provides information about Alzheimer’s disease risk, yet genotype disclosure is discouraged due to concerns about possible distress. This is the first study investigating the psychological and behavioral impacts that genetic susceptibility testing for Alzheimer’s disease has in an Asian population.

Methods:

From March 2016 to November 2017, we ran a prospective cohort study at Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School. 280 healthy Chinese elderly filled in questionnaires that measured psychological symptoms and health behaviors, 1 week before and 6 weeks after APOE genotype disclosure. Responses from ε4-positive subjects (associated with greater Alzheimer’s disease risk) were compared to responses from ε4-negative subjects.

Results:

ε4 presence was not significantly associated with anxiety (p = 0.09) or depression (p = 0.25). No associations were found for changes to diet (p = 0.36), dietary supplements consumption (p = 0.90), physical activity (p = 0.15), or cognitive activity (p = 0.18).

Conclusion:

There is no evidence to suggest that disclosure of APOE to Asian populations was associated with any short-term adverse psychological or behavioral impacts.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s diseasegenetic susceptibilityAPOE e4anxietydepressive symptomsdietary supplementsexerciseolder adults
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 31 , Issue 10: Issue Theme: Dementia and the Society , October 2019 , pp. 1499 - 1507
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2019 

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Footnotes

This research study was conducted by the authors in the Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore (Duke-NUS) Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857.

This work is original and has not been published elsewhere, nor is it currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. All authors report no conflict of interest.

Sponsor role in research: The sponsor (Duke-NUS) was not involved in any phase of the research, and the authors were fully responsible for the entire study, including the formulation of research question, choice of study design, conduct of study and decision to publish.

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