Apolipoprotein E4 genotype in Moroccan patients with dementia

Dementia is a complex disorder affecting older adults, and polipoprotein E ( APOE ) -ε4 is considered the primary genetic risk factor for its development. This ongoing study investigated the relationship between APOE genotypes, lifestyle variables, and illness severity in Moroccan patients compared with healthy controls. We conducted a case–control study, genotyping 24 patients and 23 controls for the APOE rs429358 and rs7412 polymorphisms. Diagnosis was based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association criteria, with confirmation through magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans. APOE-ε4 was significantly more prevalent in patients compared to the controls ( P = 0.0002). Furthermore, low educational levels were strongly associated with increased dementia severity ( P = 6.4E-6). Smoking was also more common in the patients with dementia ( P = 0.0047). This brief report underscores the significance of APOE-ε4 as a risk factor for dementia in the Moroccan population. Expanding the study population will confirm associations, help identify additional risk factors, and guide and personalize therapeutic approaches, considering population-specific characteristics. This preliminary report forms part of an ongoing national study on genetic and lifestyle determinants of dementia in Morocco.