Cortisol, HDL-c, VLDL-c, and APOE Polymorphisms as Laboratorial Parameters Associated to Cognitive Impairment No Dementia (CIND) and Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Population aging is a global phenomenon whose main consequence is the increase of chronic degenerative diseases, including dementia. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the laboratorial parameters lipid profile, cortisol, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene genotype, comparing cognitively healthy controls and subjects with cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and dementia in a group of elderly people.

METHODS: Three hundred and nine individuals enrolled in the Pietà Study (Brazil) were divided into three groups: control (n = 158), CIND (n = 92), and dementia (n = 59). Participants were interviewed, went through examination, and had blood samples taken.

RESULTS: Age and APOE showed significant differences among the groups, while sex and lipid profile did not. According to multivariate regression logistic analyses, higher cortisol levels, lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-c), presence of ε4 allele of APOE, and aging were associated with CIND and dementia.

CONCLUSION: These laboratorial parameters are risk factors associated to CIND and dementia in the elderly people and should be investigated in order to develop strategies to prevent or delay the onset of dementia in the oldest-old populations.