Apolipoprotein E Genotype and Sex Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease

It is unclear whether female carriers of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) than men, and the sex-dependent association of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and APOE has not been established.

To determine how sex and APOE genotype affect the risks for developing MCI and AD. Data Sources: Twenty-seven independent research studies in the Global Alzheimer's Association Interactive Network with data on nearly 58 000 participants. Study Selection: Non-Hispanic white individuals with clinical diagnostic and APOE genotype data. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Homogeneous data sets were pooled in case-control analyses, and logistic regression models were used to compute risks. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for developing MCI and AD were calculated for men and women across APOE genotypes.