Early Life Conditions and Cause-Specific Mortality in the Cache County Memory and Health Study: Gene-Environment Interactions with APOE Genotypes

Ken R. Smith, University of Utah
Richard Cawthon, University of Utah
Geraldine P. Mineau, University of Utah
Richard Kerber, University of Louisville
Maria Norton, Utah State University

We estimate the effects of early life conditions and APOE alleles on mortality risks. The sample comprises 4701 subjects 65+ in the Cache County Study on Memory and Aging. No assessment of APOE genotypes on diverse cause-specific mortality risks has been undertaken. Less attention has been given to interactions with early life factors on the mortality effects of APOE. We examine how APOE genotypes affect all- and cause-specific mortality. We extend this analysis by estimating whether family history of longevity (in this draft) and important early life conditions (in the final version of the paper) moderate mortality risk. We find adverse effects of APOE4 genotypes on all-cause mortality. A novel result was found: an elevated risk of cancer and respiratory diseases associated with the e22 genotype. The deleterious effects of APOE genotypes occur for several cause-specific mortality risks but are weaker for those with long-lived relatives.