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Cohort studyFrontiers in genetics · 2026

Clinical and neuropsychological profile of Alzheimer's disease in Tunisia and the impact of APOE gene.

Alya Gharbi, Ikram Sghaier, Mohamed El Habibi … Riadh Gouider

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NeurologyCohort study

APOE ε4 carriers with Alzheimer's disease have lower baseline cognitive function.

Clinical and neuropsychological profile of Alzheimer's disease in Tunisia and the impact of APOE gene.

Alya Gharbi et al. · Frontiers in genetics · 2026

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of major neurocognitive disorder (MNCD) worldwide and in Tunisia, is strongly associated with Apolipoprotein E ( APOE ).

Methods

We included patients with a clinical diagnosis of probable or possible AD, who consulted in the Department of Neurology at Razi University Hospital over a span of 21 years.

n = 1,010 AD patients

Results

± 6.77 vs. 16.40 ± 7.85

APOE ε4 carriers had lower scores on a mental state test

n = 1,010 AD patients

More results

Among 1,010 AD patients, the sex ratio was 0.62, with a mean age at onset of 68.9 ± 9.8 years.

Consanguinity was reported in 30.2% of cases, and a family history of major neurocognitive disorder in 65.3%.

The mean Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) scores were 14.1 ± 7.7 and 6.5 ± 4.8, respectively.

More results

Neuropsychiatric assessment revealed significant associations between APOE ε4 carriage and visual hallucinations (p = 0.0015), aggressivity (p = 0.0022), disinhibition (p = 0.0039), and aberrant motor behavior (p = 0.0054).

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Conclusion

DISCUSSION: The APOE ε4 allele, frequent in North African AD, appears to function not only as a genetic risk factor for AD, but also as a potential indicator, influencing disease onset and clinical severity.

Post

Clinical and neuropsychological profile of Alzheimer's disease in Tunisia and the impact of APOE gene.

APOE ε4 carriers with Alzheimer's disease have lower baseline cognitive function.

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