APOE ε4, an Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility allele, and smoking cessation

Possessing an APOE ε4 allele, advanced age, and smoking are risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Deficits in cognitive function also increase risk for smoking relapse. Data from 917 adult smokers of European ancestry were pooled across three randomized trials of smoking cessation. We examined whether smokers who carry at least one ε4 allele (n=252) have more difficulty quitting smoking compared to noncarriers (n=665), and whether age moderated this association. The genotype by age interaction was significant for 7-day point-prevalence abstinence rates (p=0.04) and time to 7-day failure (p=0.03). Among smokers over age 60, ε4 carriers were less likely to quit (OR=0.27, p=0.018) and relapsed more quickly (HR=3.38, p=0.001) compared to noncarriers. The genotype association with relapse was non-significant among younger smokers. An increased understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of this association could facilitate the development of targeted therapies for smokers with increased risk for cognitive decline.