APOE epsilon 4 allele predicts faster cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer disease
Cosentino S, Scarmeas N, Helzner E, Glymour MM, Brandt J, Albert M, Blacker D, Stern Y.. Neurology, 2008-04-09
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective To determine whether APOE epsilon 4 predicts rate of cognitive change in incident and prevalent Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods Individuals were recruited from two longitudinal cohort studies-the Washington Heights and Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP; population-based) and the Predictors Study (clinic-based)--and were followed for an average of 4 years. Three samples of participants diagnosed with AD, with diverse demographic characteristics and baseline cognitive functioning, were studied: 1) 199 (48%) of the incident WHICAP cases; 2) 215 (54%) of the prevalent WHICAP cases; and 3) 156 (71%) of the individuals diagnosed with AD in the Predictors Study. Generalized estimating equations were used to test whether rate of cognitive change, measured using a composite cognitive score in WHICAP and the Mini-Mental State Examination in Predictors, varied as a function of epsilon 4 status in each sample. Results The presence of at least one epsilon 4 allele was associated with faster cognitive decline in the incident population-based AD group (p = 0.01). Parallel results were produced for the two prevalent dementia samples only when adjusting for disease severity or excluding the most impaired participants from the analyses. Conclusion APOE epsilon 4 may influence rate of cognitive decline most significantly in the earliest stages of Alzheimer disease.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Cosentino, S., Scarmeas, N., Helzner, E., Glymour, M. M., Brandt, J., Albert, M., et al. (2008). APOE epsilon 4 allele predicts faster cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer disease. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000304038.37421.cc
Vancouver
Cosentino S, Scarmeas N, Helzner E, Glymour MM, Brandt J, Albert M, et al. APOE epsilon 4 allele predicts faster cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2008. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000304038.37421.cc. PMID: 18401023.
BibTeX
@article{cosentino2008-18401023,
author = {Cosentino, S. and Scarmeas, N. and Helzner, E. and Glymour, M. M. and Brandt, J. and Albert, M. and Blacker, D. and Stern, Y.},
title = {{APOE epsilon 4 allele predicts faster cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000304038.37421.cc},
pmid = {18401023},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000304038.37421.cc}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results The presence of at least one epsilon 4 allele was associated with faster cognitive decline in the incident population-based AD group (p = 0.01).
- Parallel results were produced for the two prevalent dementia samples only when adjusting for disease severity or excluding the most impaired participants from the analyses.
- Conclusion APOE epsilon 4 may influence rate of cognitive decline most significantly in the earliest stages of Alzheimer disease.
Why it matters
In population-based and clinic-based samples, the presence of at least one APOE epsilon4 allele was associated with faster cognitive decline in the incident population-based Alzheimer disease group, with parallel results in prevalent samples only after adjustment or exclusions. The findings suggest APOE epsilon4 may influence rate of decline most in the earliest stages, but no treatment was tested.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 215 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.8 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 15 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 17 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Yaakov Stern: h-index 162 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18401023) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000304038.37421.cc
- PubMed: 18401023
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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