This study examined associations between apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 carrier status and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and whether this relationship varied among adults living with HIV/HCV, HIV, HCV, or neither. We also examined whether sociodemographic factors moderated associations between APOE ε4 carrier status and MMSE scores.
Methods
A secondary analysis of cognitive, psychological, and sociodemographic data from the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort (n = 493) was completed. Banked blood samples underwent APOE genotyping. Bivariate analyses examined potential differences across participants by HIV and/or HCV statuses and by APOE ε4 carrier status. Multiple linear regression was conducted to test the adjusted moderation effect of each sociodemographic variable between APOE ε4 carrier status and MMSE scores within each group.
Results
Sociodemographic factors, such as income, education, food insecurity, and employment influenced associations between APOE ε4 carrier status and MMSE scores among participants with HIV/HCV. Participants with APOE ε4 genotypes living with HCV had higher MMSE scores than non-APOE ε4 carriers.
Conclusion
These results reinforce the need for future studies examining (1) the impact of APOE genotype on cognitive functioning while considering socioeconomic factors and (2) the influence of socioeconomic factors on cognitive scores among individuals living with HIV and or HCV.
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