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Apolipoprotein E allele epsilon 4, dementia, and cognitive decline in a population sample
Henderson AS, Easteal S, Jorm AF, Mackinnon AJ, Korten AE, Christensen H, Croft L, Jacomb PA.. Lancet (London, England), 1995-11-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
From clinically based series it has been proposed that, in homozygotes for the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (apoE epsilon 4) allele, Alzheimer's disease is almost inevitable by the age of 80. A population sample of persons aged 70 years and over was interviewed in 1990-91 to ascertain the presence of dementia or cognitive impairment. The sample was reinterviewed in 1994, when the apoE genotype was also determined.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Henderson, A. S., Easteal, S., Jorm, A. F., Mackinnon, A. J., Korten, A. E., Christensen, H., et al. (1995). Apolipoprotein E allele epsilon 4, dementia, and cognitive decline in a population sample. Lancet (London, England). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92405-1
Vancouver
Henderson AS, Easteal S, Jorm AF, Mackinnon AJ, Korten AE, Christensen H, et al. Apolipoprotein E allele epsilon 4, dementia, and cognitive decline in a population sample. Lancet (London, England). 1995. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92405-1. PMID: 7475820.
BibTeX
@article{henderson1995-7475820,
author = {Henderson, A. S. and Easteal, S. and Jorm, A. F. and Mackinnon, A. J. and Korten, A. E. and Christensen, H. and Croft, L. and Jacomb, P. A.},
title = {{Apolipoprotein E allele epsilon 4, dementia, and cognitive decline in a population sample}},
journal = {Lancet (London, England)},
year = {1995},
doi = {10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92405-1},
pmid = {7475820},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92405-1}
}
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
- A population sample of persons aged 70 years and over was interviewed in 1990-91 to ascertain the presence of dementia or cognitive impairment.
- The sample was reinterviewed in 1994, when the apoE genotype was also determined.
- Prevalence data for the 638 persons who completed the second examination revealed a linear association between having an apoE epsilon 4 allele and both dementia and cognitive impairment (for heterozygotes, odds ratio for dementia 1.89, 95% confidence interval 1.04-3.44 and for homozygotes OR 3.58, 95% CI 1.08-11.82; both adjusted for age).
- However, even in subjects homozygous for epsilon 4 the estimated prevalence of dementia by age 90 was only about 50%.
Why it matters
In a population sample of people aged 70 and over, having an apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele was linearly associated with both dementia and cognitive impairment. It reports a genetic association and does not show that any treatment, cure or prevention is available.
Study details
- Participants638
- Effect sizeOR 3.58
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Lancet (London, England)) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | The Lancet: journal h-index 1,205 (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 | 1 / 5 | 1995 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 638 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 275 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.3 citations a year over 33 year(s) since 1995 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 13 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Andrew James Mackinnon: h-index 97 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Australian National University: institution h-index 1,088 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 7475820) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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