BACKGROUND

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 is highly associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the specific influence of APOE ε4 status on tau pathology and cognitive decline in early MCI (EMCI) and late MCI (LMCI) is poorly understood. Our goal was to evaluate the association of APOE ε4 with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau levels and cognition in EMCI and LMCI patients in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database, and whether this association was mediated by amyloid-β (Aβ).

METHODS

Participants were 269 cognitively normal (CN), 262 EMCI, and 344 LMCI patients. They underwent CSF Aβ42 and tau detection, APOE ε4 genotyping, Mini-Mental State Examination, (MMSE), and Alzheimer's disease assessment scale (ADAS)-cog assessments. Linear regressions were used to examine the relation of APOE ε4 and CSF tau levels and cognitive scores in persons with and without Aβ deposition (Aβ+ and Aβ-).

RESULTS

The prevalence of APOE ε4 is higher in EMCI and LMCI than in CN (p < 0.001 for both), and in LMCI than in EMCI (p = 0.001). APOE ε4 allele was significantly higher in Aβ+ subjects than in Aβ- subjects (p < 0.001). Subjects who had a lower CSF Aβ42 level and were APOE ε4-positive experienced higher levels of CSF tau and cognitive scores in EMCI and/or LMCI.

CONCLUSIONS

An APOE ε4 allele is associated with increased CSF tau and worse cognition in both EMCI and LMCI, and this association may be mediated by Aβ. We conclude that APOE ε4 may be an important mediator of tau pathology and cognition in the early stages of AD.