Antioxidants like vitamins C and E may minimize the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Objective:
We examined whether vitamins C and E modify the apolipoprotein E (APOE) E4-related risks for developing cognitive decline.
Methods:
We conducted a population-based prospective study including Japanese residents aged 65 years from Nakajima, Japan. The participants received an evaluation of cognitive function and underwent blood tests including tests for vitamins C and E levels and APOE phenotypes. The APOE E4-by-gender-by-vitamin C or E interactions on developing cognitive decline were analyzed.
Results:
Of 606 participants with normal cognitive function determined using a baseline survey (2007–2008), 349 completed the follow up survey between 2014 and 2016. In women with APOE E4, significantly reduced risk for cognitive decline was observed for the highest blood vitamin C concentration tertile [multivariate OR 0.10 (95% CI 0.01–0.93)] compared with the lowest tertile. In men without APOE E4, significantly reduced risk for cognitive decline was observed for the highest blood vitamin E concentration tertile [multivariate OR 0.19 (0.05–0.74)] as compared with the lowest tertile.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrate significant beneficial effects of vitamins C and E in reducing the risk of cognitive decline in women with APOE E4 and men without APOE E4, respectively.
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