Cognitive Decline and Neurodegenerative Markers in Psoriasis: The Role of APOE4 and Beta-Amyloid

Hanan Hassan  Sabry; Bassma Qassim  Kadhum; Ghid Nahd  Abdulmohsin; Amira Osama  Abd El-Ghaffar; Marwa Mohamed  Mahmoud; Ghada Shams

doi:10.5826/dpc.1601a5957

Cognitive Decline and Neurodegenerative Markers in Psoriasis: The Role of APOE4 and Beta-Amyloid

Authors

Hanan Hassan Sabry Professor and Head of Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3933-2064
Bassma Qassim Kadhum Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.
Ghid Nahd Abdulmohsin Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.
Amira Osama Abd El-Ghaffar Lecturer of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2864-417X
Marwa Mohamed Mahmoud Lecturer of Psychiatry, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.
Ghada Shams Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9781-9244

Keywords:

Psoriasis Vulgaris, Apolipoprotein E4, Beta-Amyloid, Cognitive Impairment, Neuroinflammation

Abstract

Introduction: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder with potential cognitive implications. Amyloid beta (Aβ) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) are key proteins involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and neurodegeneration.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between PV, cognitive function, and serum levels of Aβ and APOE4.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 80 participants: 50 PV patients and 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Clinical assessments included Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Depression severity was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), while cognitive function was evaluated using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Serum APOE4 and Aβ levels were measured using ELISA.

Results: Patients with PV exhibited significantly higher levels of APOE4 (1125.5 ± 232.1 ng/ml vs. 821.8 ± 266 ng/ml, P<0.001) and Aβ (21.4 ± 2.2 ng/ml vs. 18.7 ± 1.4 ng/ml, P<0.001) compared to controls. ROC analysis identified APOE4 (AUC=0.80, P<0.001) and Aβ (AUC=0.86, P<0.001) as significant predictors of PV. MoCA scores were significantly lower in PV patients (median=22 vs. 28, P<0.001), particularly in those with severe disease. APOE4 and Aβ levels negatively correlated with cognitive function (r= -0.418, P=0.003), and (r= -0.399, P=0.004) respectively.

Conclusions: PV is associated with elevated Aβ and APOE4 levels, potentially linking chronic inflammation to neurodegeneration. The observed cognitive dysfunction in PV individuals underscores the importance of integrating neurological assessments into routine clinical evaluations.

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