Apolipoprotein E ε4 allele frequency in elderly depressed patients with and without cerebrovascular disease

Late-onset depression (LOD) could be a very early manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD), although contradictory results have been reported. Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) may favor the development of LOD, and that the particular forms of vascular depression should be individualized. The Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 allele was shown to be a risk factor for AD. Its role in LOD is controversial, while it is still unknown in vascular depression. Our objective was to clarify the relationship between ApoE ε4 allele and LOD in patients with and without CVD.