Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective To compare the memory performances of nondemented older adults with and without the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE-epsilon 4). Background Few studies have examined the cognitive status of subjects at high risk for the development of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). A newly reported risk factor for DAT allows for an examination of the cognitive performances of nondemented subjects who are at risk by virtue of being either heterozygous or homozygous for the APOE-epsilon 4 allele. Methods The California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) was administered to 52 nondemented older adults. Subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of the presence (n = 17) or absence (n = 35) of one or two APOE-epsilon 4 alleles. Results APOE- epsilon 4 and non-epsilon 4 groups did not significantly differ in demographic, mental status, and functional characteristics. APOE-epsilon 4 subjects demonstrated significantly poorer mean performances than non-epsilon 4 subjects on nine CVLT variables. Seven group differences remained significant, and three approached significance (0.05 Conclusions Results suggest that episodic memory changes in older adults are associated with APOE-epsilon 4 allele; sensitive cognitive markers such as those of the CVLT may precede the subsequent development of DAT.
Key findings
- Results APOE- epsilon 4 and non-epsilon 4 groups did not significantly differ in demographic, mental status, and functional characteristics.
- APOE-epsilon 4 subjects demonstrated significantly poorer mean performances than non-epsilon 4 subjects on nine CVLT variables.
- Seven group differences remained significant, and three approached significance (0.05 < p < 0.10), after the effects of age and gender were taken into account.
Why it matters
Nondemented older adults carrying the APOE epsilon4 allele performed significantly worse on several verbal memory test measures than noncarriers. The results suggest episodic memory changes are associated with the epsilon4 allele and that such cognitive markers may precede later dementia, but no treatment was tested.
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Study details
- Participants17
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on institution's track record, so that was left out: it earned 46 of the 97 points we could judge it on, which is 47 out of 100.
| 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 | 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 | 1 / 4 | 17 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 239 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.2 citations a year over 33 year(s) since 1995 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 10 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author T Saitoh: h-index 34 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 0 institution(s) in 0 countries — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 8848194) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 46 / 97 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 46 of the 97 points we could judge it on is 47 out of 100. |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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
Bondi, M. W., Salmon, D. P., Monsch, A. U., Galasko, D., Butters, N., Klauber, M. R., et al. (1995). Episodic memory changes are associated with the APOE-epsilon 4 allele in nondemented older adults. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.45.12.2203
Vancouver
Bondi MW, Salmon DP, Monsch AU, Galasko D, Butters N, Klauber MR, et al. Episodic memory changes are associated with the APOE-epsilon 4 allele in nondemented older adults. Neurology. 1995. doi:10.1212/wnl.45.12.2203. PMID: 8848194.
BibTeX
@article{bondi1995-8848194,
author = {Bondi, M. W. and Salmon, D. P. and Monsch, A. U. and Galasko, D. and Butters, N. and Klauber, M. R. and Thal, L. J. and Saitoh, T.},
title = {{Episodic memory changes are associated with the APOE-epsilon 4 allele in nondemented older adults}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {1995},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.45.12.2203},
pmid = {8848194},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.45.12.2203}
}
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