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ApoE Genotype, Age, and Cognitive Decline in Old Chinese Individuals Without Dementia: A Population‐Based Study With Five‐Year Follow‐Up
Hao Wu, Xingzhong Gu, Shuai Liu, Pan Wang, Hui Lü, Yalin Guan, Zhihong Shi, Yong Ji. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
After 5 years, 666 (86.8%) individuals were followed up. The rate of change in MMSE score was faster in the E4 group than in the E3 and E2 groups (5.0 ± 4.4 vs. 3.5 ± 3.8 vs. 3.9 ± 3.9, p = 0.001), after adjusting for age, sex, educational level and baseline MMSE scores, especially in the 70-79 years age group. In the same age group, the incidence rate of dementia was higher in the E4 group than in the E3 group (OR = 2.850; 95% CI: 1.146-7.090). After adjusting for age, sex, hypertensive status, educational level, marital status, engagement in social activities, and past history of stroke, the ApoE ε4 allele remained an independent risk factor for dementia incidence (OR = 3.070; 95% CI: 1.162-8.110) in individuals aged 70-79 years after follow-up. ApoE ε4 carriers with age ≥ 60 years had faster cognitive decline. The ApoE ε4 allele was an independent risk factor for dementia incidence in extremely old individuals.
Key findings
- After 5 years, 666 (86.8%) individuals were followed up.
- The rate of change in MMSE score was faster in the E4 group than in the E3 and E2 groups (5.0 ± 4.4 vs. 3.5 ± 3.8 vs. 3.9 ± 3.9, p = 0.001), after adjusting for age, sex, educational level and baseline MMSE scores, especially in the 70-79 years age group.
- In the same age group, the incidence rate of dementia was higher in the E4 group than in the E3 group (OR = 2.850; 95% CI: 1.146-7.090).
- After adjusting for age, sex, hypertensive status, educational level, marital status, engagement in social activities, and past history of stroke, the ApoE ε4 allele remained an independent risk factor for dementia incidence (OR = 3.070; 95% CI: 1.162-8.110) in individuals aged 70-79 years after follow-up.
- ApoE ε4 carriers with age ≥ 60 years had faster cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Over five years, older people carrying the ApoE ε4 allele, especially those aged 70-79, showed faster cognitive decline and a higher incidence of dementia. This confirms ApoE ε4 as a risk factor but does not provide a treatment or prevention.
Study details
- Effect size86.8%; OR = 2.850; OR = 3.070
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 37/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 190 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yong Ji: h-index 27 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Tianjin Medical University: institution h-index 402 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39814697) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 37 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/gps.70045
- PubMed: 39814697
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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.
APA 7th
Wu, H., Gu, X., Liu, S., Wang, P., Lü, H., Guan, Y., et al. (2025). ApoE Genotype, Age, and Cognitive Decline in Old Chinese Individuals Without Dementia: A Population‐Based Study With Five‐Year Follow‐Up. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.70045
Vancouver
Wu H, Gu X, Liu S, Wang P, Lü H, Guan Y, et al. ApoE Genotype, Age, and Cognitive Decline in Old Chinese Individuals Without Dementia: A Population‐Based Study With Five‐Year Follow‐Up. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2025. doi:10.1002/gps.70045. PMID: 39814697.
BibTeX
@article{wu2025-39814697,
author = {Wu, Hao and Gu, Xingzhong and Liu, Shuai and Wang, Pan and Lü, Hui and Guan, Yalin and Shi, Zhihong and Ji, Yong},
title = {{ApoE Genotype, Age, and Cognitive Decline in Old Chinese Individuals Without Dementia: A Population‐Based Study With Five‐Year Follow‐Up}},
journal = {International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/gps.70045},
pmid = {39814697},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.70045}
}
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