TY - JOUR AU - Launer, Lenore J. AB - OBJECTIVES: To determine whether cognitive decline associated with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele is different in older African Americans than it is in Caucasians. DESIGN: Performance on a brief screen of cognitive functioning was examined at baseline (N = 1,891) and 4 years later (N = 1,389) to determine the extent to which the presence of APOEɛ4 affected level of and change in performance, and whether this differed as a function of race, age, initial score, and change in score. SETTING: Five adjacent counties in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: In 1986, a stratified random household sample of community residents age 65 and older (n = 4,162; 54% African‐American, 45% Caucasian, 1% other race) formed the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly. Of those available at the sixth annual wave, 76% were genotyped, with 1,891 providing baseline data on this wave, and the available survivors (n = 1,389) providing longitudinal data 4 years later. MEASUREMENTS: The Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), a brief screen of cognitive functioning, was administered to all subjects on both occasions. We examined score at baseline and cognitive decline (i.e., increase of 2+ errors) at follow‐up. Control measures included demographic characteristics, health behaviors, health and functional status, and medication use. APOE status was coded as ɛ4 present versus absent. RESULTS: APOEɛ4 was significantly and uniquely related to lower score at baseline and significantly increased the odds of cognitive decline by 59%. There was no statistically significant interaction between APOEɛ4 and age, race, initial SPMSQ score, or SPMSQ score at follow‐up. TI - The Relationship of APOE Genotype to Cognitive Functioning in Older African‐American and Caucasian Community Residents JF - Journal of American Geriatrics Society DO - 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49230.x DA - 2001-09-01 UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/the-relationship-of-apoe-genotype-to-cognitive-functioning-in-older-15jw9Yi2L1 SP - 1148 VL - 49 IS - 9 DP - DeepDyve ER -