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Effect of apolipoprotein E and butyrylcholinesterase genotypes on cognitive response to cholinesterase inhibitor treatment at different stages of Alzheimer's disease

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 11, pages 444–450 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Factors that influence response to drug treatment are of increasing importance. We report an analysis of genetic factors affecting response to cholinesterase inhibitor therapy in 165 subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presence of apolipoprotein E ɛ4 (APOE ɛ4) allele was associated with early and late cognitive response to cholinesterase inhibitor treatment in mild AD (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) ⩾21) (P<0.01). In moderate-to-severe AD (MMSE ⩽15), presence of the BCHE-K variant was associated with late response to cholinesterase inhibitor treatment (P=0.02). Testing for APOE and BCHE genotypes may be useful in therapeutic decision making.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants to Dr Patterson from Shire and Johnson and Johnson.

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  1. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK

    C E Patterson, S A Todd & A P Passmore

  2. Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, UK

    S A Todd & A P Passmore

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Correspondence to S A Todd.

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Dr Patterson received funding from Shire and Johnson and Johnson for this work. Dr Todd has received honoraria and assistance with attendance at meetings from Novartis and Shire. He is currently funded by a Paul B Beeson Career Development Award in Ageing Research for the Island of Ireland programme. Prof Passmore has received honoraria and assistance with attendance at meetings from Pfizer, Eisai, Shire, Johnson and Johnson, Novartis and Lundbeck. The sponsor had no role in this study, except for providing funding. The decision to submit for publication was that of the authors alone.

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Patterson, C., Todd, S. & Passmore, A. Effect of apolipoprotein E and butyrylcholinesterase genotypes on cognitive response to cholinesterase inhibitor treatment at different stages of Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacogenomics J 11, 444–450 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/tpj.2010.61

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