@article{ref1,
title="The influence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene on subacute post-concussion neurocognitive performance in college athletes",
journal="Archives of clinical neuropsychology",
year="2018",
author="Merritt, Victoria C. and Rabinowitz, Amanda R. and Arnett, Peter A.",
volume="33",
number="1",
pages="36-46",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ε4 allele of the APOE gene influences neurocognitive outcome following sports-related concussion. It was hypothesized that participants with an ε4 allele would show poorer neurocognitive performance and greater neurocognitive variability than those without an ε4 allele. <br><br>METHOD: Participants included 57 concussed collegiate athletes (77.2% male) who participated in a concussion management program at a large university. All athletes underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and provided a DNA sample for determination of their APOE genotype. The test battery included measures sensitive to concussion, covering the broad domains of learning and memory, attention, processing speed, and executive functions. <br><br>RESULTS: The sample was divided into ε4 + (n = 20) and ε4 - (n = 37) groups. No significant differences were found between athletes with and without an ε4 allele when examining mean neurocognitive standardized scores (all p >.05; d = 0.16-0.18). However, athletes with an ε4 allele were more likely to show a greater number of impaired neurocognitive scores post-injury compared to athletes without an ε4 allele, χ2(1, N = 57) = 3.96, p = <.05, φ = 0.26. Additionally, athletes with an ε4 allele demonstrated greater neurocognitive variability than athletes without an ε4 allele, t(55) = -2.04, p <.05, d = 0.53. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This research furthers our understanding of how genetic factors uniquely contribute to neurocognitive performance differences following concussion. Our findings suggest a possible relationship between the ε4 allele and post-concussion impairment, as well as between the ε4 allele and neurocognitive performance variability, suggesting that the ε4 genotype may be a risk factor for less efficient cognitive processing in concussed athletes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0887-6177",
doi="10.1093/arclin/acx051",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acx051"
}