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Patterson RA, Brooks H, Mirjalili M, Rashidi-Ranjbar N, Zomorrodi R, Blumberger DM, Fischer CE, Flint AJ, Graff-Guerrero A, Herrmann N, Kennedy JL, Kumar S, Lanctôt KL, Mah L, Mulsant BH, Pollock BG, Voineskos AN, Wang W, Rajji TK. Neurophysiological and other features of working memory in older adults at risk for dementia. Cogn Neurodyn 2024; 18:795-811. [PMID: 38826646 PMCID: PMC11143125 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-023-09938-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Theta-gamma coupling (TGC) is a neurophysiological process that supports working memory. Working memory is associated with other clinical and biological features. The extent to which TGC is associated with these other features and whether it contributes to working memory beyond these features is unknown. Two-hundred-and-three older participants at risk for Alzheimer's dementia-98 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 39 with major depressive disorder (MDD) in remission, and 66 with MCI and MDD (MCI + MDD)-completed a clinical assessment, N-back-EEG, and brain MRI. Among them, 190 completed genetic testing, and 121 completed [11C] Pittsburgh Compound B ([11C] PIB) PET imaging. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to assess whether TGC is associated with demographic and clinical variables; Alzheimer's disease-related features (APOE ε4 carrier status and β-amyloid load); and structural features related to working memory. Then, linear regressions were used to assess whether TGC is associated with 2-back performance after accounting for these features. Other than age, TGC was not associated with any non-neurophysiological features. In contrast, TGC (β = 0.27; p = 0.006), age (β = - 0.29; p = 0.012), and parietal cortical thickness (β = 0.24; p = 0.020) were associated with 2-back performance. We also examined two other EEG features that are linked to working memory-theta event-related synchronization and alpha event-related desynchronization-and found them not to be associated with any feature or performance after accounting for TGC. Our findings suggest that TGC is a process that is independent of other clinical, genetic, neurochemical, and structural variables, and supports working memory in older adults at risk for dementia. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-023-09938-y.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Brooks
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | - Mina Mirjalili
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | | | - Reza Zomorrodi
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | - Daniel M. Blumberger
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, CAMH, Toronto, ON M6J 1H1 Canada
| | - Corinne E. Fischer
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B, 1T8 Canada
| | - Alastair J. Flint
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Ariel Graff-Guerrero
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
| | - Nathan Herrmann
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, ON M4N 3M5 Toronto, Canada
| | - James L. Kennedy
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Toronto, Canada
| | - Krista L. Lanctôt
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, ON M4N 3M5 Toronto, Canada
| | - Linda Mah
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1 Canada
| | - Benoit H. Mulsant
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, CAMH, Toronto, ON M6J 1H1 Canada
| | - Bruce G. Pollock
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Toronto, Canada
| | - Aristotle N. Voineskos
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
| | - Wei Wang
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
| | - Tarek K. Rajji
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, TemertyFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Canada
- Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Toronto, Canada
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Escudero B, Moya M, López-Valencia L, Arias F, Orio L. Reelin Plasma Levels Identify Cognitive Decline in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients During Early Abstinence: The Influence of APOE4 Expression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 26:545-556. [PMID: 37350760 PMCID: PMC10464928 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apolipoprotein E (APOE)-4 isoform, reelin, and clusterin share very-low-density liporeceptor and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 receptors and are related to cognition in neuropsychiatric disorders. These proteins are expressed in plasma and brain, but studies involving plasma expression and cognition are scarce. METHODS We studied the peripheral expression (plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells) of these proteins in 24 middle-aged patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosed at 4 to 12 weeks of abstinence (t = 0) and 34 controls. Cognition was assessed using the Test of Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Alcoholism. In a follow-up study (t = 1), we measured reelin levels and evaluated cognitive improvement at 6 months of abstinence. RESULTS APOE4 isoform was present in 37.5% and 58.8% of patients and controls, respectively, reaching similar plasma levels in ε4 carriers regardless of whether they were patients with AUD or controls. Plasma reelin and clusterin were higher in the AUD group, and reelin levels peaked in patients expressing APOE4 (P < .05, η2 = 0.09), who showed reduced very-low-density liporeceptor and apolipoprotein E receptor 2 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. APOE4 had a negative effect on memory/learning mainly in the AUD group (P < .01, η2 = 0.15). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified plasma reelin as a good indicator of AUD cognitive impairment at t = 0. At t = 1, patients with AUD showed lower reelin levels vs controls along with some cognitive improvement. CONCLUSIONS Reelin plasma levels are elevated during early abstinence in patients with AUD who express the APOE4 isoform, identifying cognitive deterioration to a great extent, and it may participate as a homeostatic signal for cognitive recovery in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Escudero
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Moya
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
| | - Leticia López-Valencia
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Arias
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- RIAPAd: Research Network in Primary Care in Addictions (“Red de investigación en atención primaria en adicciones”), Spain
| | - Laura Orio
- Department of Psychobiology and Behavioral Sciences Methods, Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- RIAPAd: Research Network in Primary Care in Addictions (“Red de investigación en atención primaria en adicciones”), Spain
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Abdullah L, Nkiliza A, Niedospial D, Aldrich G, Bartenfelder G, Keegan A, Hoffmann M, Mullan M, Klimas N, Baraniuk J, Crawford F, Krengel M, Chao L, Sullivan K. Genetic association between the APOE ε4 allele, toxicant exposures and Gulf war illness diagnosis. Environ Health 2023; 22:51. [PMID: 37415220 PMCID: PMC10324249 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01002-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Exposure to nerve agents, pyridostigmine bromide (PB), pesticides, and oil-well fires during the 1991 Gulf War (GW) are major contributors to the etiology of Gulf War Illness (GWI). Since the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is associated with the risk of cognitive decline with age, particularly in the presence of environmental exposures, and cognitive impairment is one of the most common symptoms experienced by veterans with GWI, we examined whether the ε4 allele was associated with GWI. METHODS Using a case-control design, we obtained data on APOE genotypes, demographics, and self-reported GW exposures and symptoms that were deposited in the Boston Biorepository and Integrative Network (BBRAIN) for veterans diagnosed with GWI (n = 220) and healthy GW control veterans (n = 131). Diagnosis of GWI was performed using the Kansas and/or Center for Disease Control (CDC) criteria. RESULTS Age- and sex-adjusted analyses showed a significantly higher odds ratio for meeting the GWI case criteria in the presence of the ε4 allele (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI = 1.07-3.15], p ≤ 0.05) and with two copies of the ε4 allele (OR = 1.99, 95% CI [1.23-3.21], p ≤ 0.01). Combined exposure to pesticides and PB pills (OR = 4.10 [2.12-7.91], p ≤ 0.05) as well as chemical alarms and PB pills (OR = 3.30 [1.56-6.97] p ≤ 0.05) during the war were also associated with a higher odds ratio for meeting GWI case criteria. There was also an interaction between the ε4 allele and exposure to oil well fires (OR = 2.46, 95% CI [1.07-5.62], p ≤ 0.05) among those who met the GWI case criteria. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the presence of the ε4 allele was associated with meeting the GWI case criteria. Gulf War veterans who reported exposure to oil well fires and have an ε4 allele were more likely to meet GWI case criteria. Long-term surveillance of veterans with GWI, particularly those with oil well fire exposure, is required to better assess the future risk of cognitive decline among this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Abdullah
- Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA.
- James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - A Nkiliza
- James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - G Aldrich
- Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - A Keegan
- Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | | | - M Mullan
- Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - N Klimas
- Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Miami VA Medical Center GRECC, Miami, FL, USA
| | - J Baraniuk
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - F Crawford
- Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
- James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - M Krengel
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - L Chao
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K Sullivan
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Lawrence KA, Rippey CS, Welikson B, Pietrzak RH, Adams TG. Interactive association of posttraumatic stress disorder, apolipoprotein ε4 genotype, and age on cognitive functioning. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2023; 38:e5888. [PMID: 36757293 PMCID: PMC10168127 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein (APOE) gene and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with cognitive deficits. Both associations may vary depending on age. No previous study has examined a possible three-way interaction between APOE ε4, PTSD, and age on cognitive functioning. METHODS Data were analyzed from 1244 European-American U.S. military veterans who participated in the 2011 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Analyses of covariance were used to examine the main effects and interactions of APOE ε4, PTSD, and age on learning/working memory (LWM) and attention/psychomotor (APM) performance. RESULTS A significant three-way interaction between APOE ε4, PTSD, and age on the LWM composite (ηp 2 = 0.011) was observed such that the main effect of APOE ε4 on LWM was only significant for older participants with PTSD. A significant two-way interaction between PTSD and age on the APM composite (ηp 2 = 0.011) was observed such that the main effect of PTSD on APM was only significant in older participants. CONCLUSION Older APOE ε4 carriers with probable PTSD showed poorer LWM performance relative to other groups. Aging-related associations on APM performance were most pronounced in veterans with PTSD. These data are preliminary evidence that identification and treatment of PTSD may be beneficial for individuals at risk for age-related cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bianca Welikson
- University of Louisville, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
| | - Robert H. Pietrzak
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
- Clinical Neurosciences Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Thomas G. Adams
- University of Kentucky, Department of Psychology
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry
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5
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Drake JA, Jakicic JM, Rogers RJ, Aghjayan SL, Stillman CM, Donofry SD, Roecklein KA, Lang W, Erickson KI. Reduced brain activity during a working memory task in middle-aged apolipoprotein E ε4 carriers with overweight/obesity. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:1001229. [PMID: 36504632 PMCID: PMC9732810 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.1001229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) allele and midlife obesity are independent risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both of these risk factors are also associated with differences in brain activation, as measured by blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses, in the absence of detectable cognitive deficits. Although the presence of these risk factors may influence brain activity during working memory tasks, no study to date has examined whether the presence of the ε4 allele explains variation in working memory brain activity while matching for levels of overweight/obesity. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of the ε4 allele is associated with differences in task-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain activation in adults with overweight/obesity. We predicted that ε4 carriers would have greater brain activation in regions that support working memory. Methods This ancillary study included 48 (n = 24 APOE ε4 carriers; n = 24 APOE ε4 non-carriers), sedentary middle-aged adults (Mean age = 44.63 ± 8.36 years) with overweight/obesity (Mean BMI = 32.43 ± 4.12 kg/m2) who were matched on demographic characteristics. Participants were a subsample enrolled in 12-month randomized clinical trial examining the impact of energy-restricted diet and exercise on cardiovascular health outcomes. Participants completed a n-back working memory task with fMRI, which were completed within one month of the start of the intervention. Participants also underwent pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling scans, a MRI measure of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Results Compared to non-ε4 carriers with overweight/obesity, ε4 carriers with overweight/obesity had lower fMRI brain activity in the middle frontal gyrus, pre and post central gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, lateral occipital cortex, and angular gyrus (z range = 2.52-3.56) during the n-back working memory task. Differences persisted even when controlling for CBF in these brain regions. Conclusion These results indicate that presence of the APOE ε4 allele in middle-aged adults with overweight/obesity is related to altered brain activity during a working memory paradigm, which may confer risk for accelerated neurocognitive decline in late adulthood. Future research is needed to clarify the clinical implications of these findings in the context of risk for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jermon A. Drake
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States,Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Jermon A. Drake,
| | - John M. Jakicic
- Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | | | - Sarah L. Aghjayan
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States,Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Chelsea M. Stillman
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Shannon D. Donofry
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States,Allegheny Health Network, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Kathryn A. Roecklein
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Wei Lang
- Center on Aging and Mobility, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kirk I. Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States,Center for Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States,PROFITH “PROmoting FITness and Health Through Physical Activity” Research Group, Department of Physical and Sports Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain,AdventHealth Research Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orlando, FL, United States
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6
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Vidal V, Puente A, García-Cerro S, García Unzueta MT, Rueda N, Riancho J, Martínez-Cué C. Bexarotene Impairs Cognition and Produces Hypothyroidism in a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:613211. [PMID: 33935706 PMCID: PMC8082148 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.613211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
All individuals with Down syndrome (DS) eventually develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, including neurodegeneration, increases in β-amyloid (Aβ) expression, and aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles, between the third and fourth decade of their lives. There is currently no effective treatment to prevent AD neuropathology and the associated cognitive degeneration in DS patients. Due to evidence that the accumulation of Aβ aggregates in the brain produces the neurodegenerative cascade characteristic of AD, many strategies which promote the clearance of Aβ peptides have been assessed as potential therapeutics for this disease. Bexarotene, a member of a subclass of retinoids that selectively activates retinoid receptors, modulates several pathways essential for cognitive performance and Aβ clearance. Consequently, bexarotene might be a good candidate to treat AD-associated neuropathology. However, the effects of bexarotene treatment in AD remain controversial. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate whether chronic bexarotene treatment administered to the most commonly used murine model of DS, the Ts65Dn (TS) mouse could reduce Aβ expression in their brains and improve their cognitive abilities. Chronic administration of bexarotene to aged TS mice and their CO littermates for 9 weeks diminished the reference, working, and spatial learning and memory of TS mice, and the spatial memory of CO mice in the Morris water maze. This treatment also produced marked hypoactivity in the plus maze, open field, and hole board tests in TS mice, and in the open field and hole board tests in CO mice. Administration of bexarotene reduced the expression of Aβ1-40, but not of Aβ1-42, in the hippocampi of TS mice. Finally, bexarotene increased Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in TS mice and reduced Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in CO mice, while animals of both karyotypes displayed reduced thyroxine levels after bexarotene administration. The bexarotene-induced hypothyroidism could be responsible for the hypoactivity of TS and CO mice and their diminished performance in the Morris water maze. Together, these results do not provide support for the use of bexarotene as a potential treatment of AD neuropathology in the DS population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Vidal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Alba Puente
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Susana García-Cerro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.,CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Noemí Rueda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Javier Riancho
- Neurology Service, Hospital Sierrallana-IDIVAL, Torrelavega, Spain.,Department of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.,CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Martínez-Cué
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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7
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Elverman KH, Paitel ER, Figueroa CM, McKindles RJ, Nielson KA. Event-Related Potentials, Inhibition, and Risk for Alzheimer's Disease Among Cognitively Intact Elders. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 80:1413-1428. [PMID: 33682720 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite advances in understanding Alzheimer's disease (AD), prediction of AD prior to symptom onset remains severely limited, even when primary risk factors such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele are known. OBJECTIVE Although executive dysfunction is highly prevalent and is a primary contributor to loss of independence in those with AD, few studies have examined neural differences underlying executive functioning as indicators of risk for AD prior to symptom onset, when intervention might be effective. METHODS This study examined event-related potential (ERP) differences during inhibitory control in 44 cognitively intact older adults (20 ɛ4+, 24 ɛ4-), relative to 41 young adults. All participants completed go/no-go and stop-signal tasks. RESULTS Overall, both older adult groups exhibited slower reaction times and longer ERP latencies compared to young adults. Older adults also had generally smaller N200 and P300 amplitudes, except at frontal electrodes and for N200 stop-signal amplitudes, which were larger in older adults. Considered with intact task accuracy, these findings suggest age-related neural compensation. Although ɛ4 did not distinguish elders during go or no-go tasks, this study uniquely showed that the more demanding stop-signal task was sensitive to ɛ4 differences, despite comparable task and neuropsychological performance with non-carriers. Specifically, ɛ4+ elders had slower frontal N200 latency and larger N200 amplitude, which was most robust at frontal sites, compared with ɛ4-. CONCLUSION N200 during a stop-signal task is sensitive to AD risk, prior to any evidence of cognitive dysfunction, suggesting that stop-signal ERPs may be an important protocol addition to neuropsychological testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ryan J McKindles
- Marquette University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Kristy A Nielson
- Marquette University, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA.,Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Neurology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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8
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Makkar SR, Lipnicki DM, Crawford JD, Kochan NA, Castro-Costa E, Lima-Costa MF, Diniz BS, Brayne C, Stephan B, Matthews F, Llibre-Rodriguez JJ, Llibre-Guerra JJ, Valhuerdi-Cepero AJ, Lipton RB, Katz MJ, Wang C, Ritchie K, Carles S, Carriere I, Scarmeas N, Yannakoulia M, Kosmidis M, Lam L, Chan WC, Fung A, Guaita A, Vaccaro R, Davin A, Kim KW, Han JW, Suh SW, Riedel-Heller SG, Roehr S, Pabst A, Ganguli M, Hughes TF, Snitz B, Anstey KJ, Cherbuin N, Easteal S, Haan MN, Aiello AE, Dang K, Pin Ng T, Gao Q, Zin Nyunt MS, Brodaty H, Trollor JN, Leung Y, Lo JW, Sachdev P. APOE ε4 and the Influence of Sex, Age, Vascular Risk Factors, and Ethnicity on Cognitive Decline. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 75:1863-1873. [PMID: 32396611 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to examine the relationship between Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE*4) carriage on cognitive decline, and whether these associations were moderated by sex, baseline age, ethnicity, and vascular risk factors. Participants were 19,225 individuals aged 54-103 years from 15 longitudinal cohort studies with a mean follow-up duration ranging between 1.2 and 10.7 years. Two-step individual participant data meta-analysis was used to pool results of study-wise analyses predicting memory and general cognitive decline from carriage of one or two APOE*4 alleles, and moderation of these associations by age, sex, vascular risk factors, and ethnicity. Separate pooled estimates were calculated in both men and women who were younger (ie, 62 years) and older (ie, 80 years) at baseline. Results showed that APOE*4 carriage was related to faster general cognitive decline in women, and faster memory decline in men. A stronger dose-dependent effect was observed in older men, with faster general cognitive and memory decline in those carrying two versus one APOE*4 allele. Vascular risk factors were related to an increased effect of APOE*4 on memory decline in younger women, but a weaker effect of APOE*4 on general cognitive decline in older men. The relationship between APOE*4 carriage and memory decline was larger in older-aged Asians than Whites. In sum, APOE*4 is related to cognitive decline in men and women, although these effects are enhanced by age and carriage of two APOE*4 alleles in men, a higher numbers of vascular risk factors during the early stages of late adulthood in women, and Asian ethnicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve R Makkar
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Darren M Lipnicki
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - John D Crawford
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Breno Satler Diniz
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine University Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Geriatric Psychiatry Division, Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carol Brayne
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Cambridge University, UK
| | - Blossom Stephan
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Fiona Matthews
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Jorge J Llibre-Guerra
- Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Havana, Cuba.,Memory and Aging Center, UCSF, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Richard B Lipton
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York City, New York
| | - Mindy J Katz
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York City, New York
| | - Cuiling Wang
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York City, New York
| | - Karen Ritchie
- Inserm, U1061 Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, La Colombière Hospital, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sophie Carles
- Inserm, UMR1153 Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité Center (CRESS), Paris, France.,Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Carriere
- Inserm, U1061 Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, La Colombière Hospital, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Nikolaos Scarmeas
- 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.,Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's disease and the Aging Brain, Gertrude H Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York city, New York
| | - Mary Yannakoulia
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (M.Y.), Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
| | - Mary Kosmidis
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Linda Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Wai Chi Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Ada Fung
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
| | | | | | | | - Ki Woong Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji Won Han
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Seung Wan Suh
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Roehr
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexander Pabst
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mary Ganguli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Tiffany F Hughes
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Gerontology, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
| | - Beth Snitz
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Kaarin J Anstey
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Simon Easteal
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Mary N Haan
- University of California, School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, San Francisco, California
| | - Allison E Aiello
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Carolina Population Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kristina Dang
- University of California, School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, San Francisco, California
| | - Tze Pin Ng
- Gerontology Research Programme, Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qi Gao
- Gerontology Research Programme, Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ma Shwe Zin Nyunt
- Gerontology Research Programme, Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julian N Trollor
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yvonne Leung
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Jessica W Lo
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Perminder Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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9
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Tsai CL, Erickson KI, Sun HS, Kuo YM, Pai MC. A cross-sectional examination of a family history of Alzheimer's disease and ApoE epsilon 4 on physical fitness, molecular biomarkers, and neurocognitive performance. Physiol Behav 2020; 230:113268. [PMID: 33383402 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study examined whether the ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene impacts molecular biomarkers and neurocognitive performance among individuals at genetic risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The correlations between physical fitness and molecular/neurocognitive indices were also explored. METHODS Fasting blood samples were collected from 162 individuals with a family history of AD (ADFH). There were twenty-two carriers of the ApoE-4 variant (ApoE-4 group). For comparison purposes we randomly selected 22 non-ɛ4 carriers (non-ApoE-4 group) from the ADFH individuals. Circulating inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-15), neuroprotective growth factors (e.g., BDNF, IGF-1, IGF-2, VEGF, and FGF-2), and Amyloid-β peptides (e.g., Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42), neurocognitive performance [e.g., behavior and brain even-related potentials (ERP)] during a task-switching paradigm, as well as physical fitness scores were measured. RESULTS The ApoE-4 group relative to the non-ApoE-4 group was similar with respect to molecular biomarkers, physical fitness, and most measures of neurocognitive performance. However, ADFH individuals that were ɛ4 carriers exhibited significantly higher local switching accuracy costs, worse accuracy as well as smaller ERP P3 amplitudes for the memory-switching condition. Importantly, cardiorespiratory fitness levels were significantly correlated with accuracy for most task-switching conditions, and levels of BDNF, Aβ1-40, and Aβ1-42 collapsed across the two groups even when controlling for the age co-variable, while the ApoE-4 group revealed similar pattern of results. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that individuals with ADFH that were carriers of the ApoE-4 variant performed worse on the task-switching paradigm and that this could be due to compromised task-set and memory updating processes. Physical exercise interventions aimed to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness levels could be a potential AD prevention strategy for ameliorating cognitive function and reducing the accumulation of the Aβ peptides in this high risk group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Liang Tsai
- Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.
| | - Kirk I Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, USA; Discipline of Exercise Science, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Western Australia
| | - H-Sunny Sun
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Min Kuo
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chyi Pai
- Division of Behavioral Neurology, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan.
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10
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Li Y, Li S, Xu S, Yu H, Tang L, Liu X, Wang X, Zhang Y, Zhang K, Mi S, Chen M, Cui H. Association of Androgens and Gonadotropins with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Probable Alzheimer’s Disease in Chinese Elderly Men. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 78:277-290. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-200233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Age-related hormone changes play important roles in cognitive decline in older men, and apolipoprotein E ɛ4 (APOE ɛ4) is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the interactive role of androgen decline and APOE ɛ4 genotype in the pathogenesis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and AD. Methods: In total, 576 elderly men over 65 years old from communities in Shijiazhuang were enrolled in this study, including 243 with normal cognition (NC), 271 with aMCI, and 62 with probable AD. Cognitive function was evaluated with a battery of neuropsychological tests. The serum levels of androgen and gonadotropin were detected by ELISA and chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: The levels of free testosterone (FT) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were lower in the aMCI group (p < 0.05), and even lower in the AD group (p < 0.001), but the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were higher in AD group (p < 0.01), comparing with that in NC or aMCI group. The interaction of lower FT or DHT levels with APOE ɛ4 had a risk role in global cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve for predicting aMCI by serum FT levels was 0.745. Conclusion: These results indicated that the interaction of androgen decline and APOE ɛ4 genotype play a role in aMCI and AD. Serum FT levels have a predictive value for aMCI and might be a potential biomarker for prodromal AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Shunjiang Xu
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Hong Yu
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Longmei Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyun Liu
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- College of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Kaixia Zhang
- Central Laboratory, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Shixiong Mi
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Meiqin Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
| | - Huixian Cui
- Department of Human Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanism, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China
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11
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Lancaster C, McDaniel MA, Tabet N, Rusted J. Prospective Memory: Age related change is influenced by APOE genotype. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2019; 27:710-728. [PMID: 31578124 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2019.1671305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Non-focal prospective memory (PM) is sensitive to age-related decline; an additional impairment in focal PM is characteristic of mild stage Alzheimer's disease. This research explored whether, by mid-adulthood, the distinct demands of focal and non-focal PM expose differences in carriers of an APOE ε4 allele, a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Thirty-three young and 55 mid-age adults, differentiated by APOE genotype, completed a category-decision task with a concurrent focal or non-focal PM demand. Only mid-age ε4 carriers showed a cost of carrying a focal PM intention. In addition, mid-age ε4 carriers showed a significantly greater cost of carrying a non-focal PM intention than young ε4 carriers, supporting a profile of accelerated aging. Consistency in the profile of cost differences observed in mid-age ε4 carriers and pathological aging may indicate premature vulnerability. Future research correlating a shift in PM performance with early genotype differences in brain-based markers of decline is important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Lancaster
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex , Brighton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Mark A McDaniel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University , St Louis, MI, USA
| | - Naji Tabet
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Centre for Dementia Studies , Brighton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Jennifer Rusted
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex , Brighton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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12
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Cognitive Performance in Young APOE ε4 Carriers: A Latent Variable Approach for Assessing the Genotype-Phenotype Relationship. Behav Genet 2019; 49:455-468. [PMID: 31177340 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-019-09961-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein (APOE) gene is a widely recognized genetic risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease in older age. However, it is controversial whether there is a positive impact of the APOE ε4 allele on human cognitive performance in young adulthood, possibly representing a case of antagonistic pleiotropy. Here we explored associations of the APOE ε4 allele with cognitive ability in young adulthood. In contrast to previous studies, we used structural equation modeling that allows a multivariate measurement of the cognitive phenotype. Results based on four independent samples (N1 = 245; N2 = 300; N3 = 244; N4 = 206) overall revealed a complex effect of the APOE ε4 genotype on cognitive ability in young adulthood: Whereas the ε4 allele tends to be negatively associated with cognitive performance in individuals with lower education levels, there might be a weak positive association in persons with higher education-a finding that is partly in line with the antagonistic pleiotropy view on APOE and cognitive ability. The education-related findings support protective effects of environmental factors.
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13
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Goltermann J, Redlich R, Dohm K, Zaremba D, Repple J, Kaehler C, Grotegerd D, Förster K, Meinert S, Enneking V, Schlaghecken E, Fleischer L, Hahn T, Kugel H, Jansen A, Krug A, Brosch K, Nenadic I, Schmitt S, Stein F, Meller T, Yüksel D, Fischer E, Rietschel M, Witt SH, Forstner AJ, Nöthen MM, Kircher T, Thalamuthu A, Baune BT, Dannlowski U, Opel N. Apolipoprotein E Homozygous ε4 Allele Status: A Deteriorating Effect on Visuospatial Working Memory and Global Brain Structure. Front Neurol 2019; 10:552. [PMID: 31191441 PMCID: PMC6545528 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Theoretical background: The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype is known to be one of the strongest single-gene predictors for Alzheimer disease, which is characterized by widespread brain structural degeneration progressing along with cognitive impairment. The ε4 allele status has been associated with brain structural alterations and lower cognitive ability in non-demented subjects. However, it remains unclear to what extent the visuospatial cognitive domain is affected, from what age onward changes are detectable and if alterations may interact with cognitive deficits in major depressive disorder (MDD). The current work investigated the effect of APOE ε4 homozygosity on visuospatial working memory (vWM) capacity, and on hippocampal morphometry. Furthermore, potential moderating roles of age and MDD were assessed. Methods: A sample of n = 31 homozygous ε4 carriers was contrasted with n = 31 non-ε4 carriers in a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of non-demented, young to mid-age participants (mean age = 34.47; SD = 13.48; 51.6% female). Among them were n = 12 homozygous ε4 carriers and n = 12 non-ε4 carriers suffering from MDD (39%). VWM was assessed using the Corsi block-tapping task. Region of interest analyses of hippocampal gray matter density and volume were conducted using voxel-based morphometry (CAT12), and Freesurfer, respectively. Results: Homozygous ε4 carriers showed significantly lower Corsi span capacity than non-ε4 carriers did, and Corsi span capacity was associated with higher gray matter density of the hippocampus. APOE group differences in hippocampal volume could be detected but were no longer present when controlling for total intracranial volume. Hippocampal gray matter density did not differ between APOE groups. We did not find any interaction effects of age and MDD diagnosis on hippocampal morphometry. Conclusion: Our results point toward a negative association of homozygous ε4 allele status with vWM capacity already during mid-adulthood, which emerges independently of MDD diagnosis and age. APOE genotype seems to be associated with global brain structural rather than hippocampus specific alterations in young- to mid-age participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janik Goltermann
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ronny Redlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Katharina Dohm
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Dario Zaremba
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jonathan Repple
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Claas Kaehler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | | | - Susanne Meinert
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Verena Enneking
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Lara Fleischer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Tim Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Harald Kugel
- Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Jansen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Core-Facility BrainImaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Axel Krug
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Brosch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Igor Nenadic
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Simon Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Frederike Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tina Meller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dilara Yüksel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Elena Fischer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marcella Rietschel
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie H Witt
- Department of Genetic Epidemiology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andreas J Forstner
- School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,Centre for Human Genetics, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus M Nöthen
- School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tilo Kircher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anbupalam Thalamuthu
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bernhard T Baune
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Udo Dannlowski
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nils Opel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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14
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Abulafia C, Fiorentini L, Loewenstein DA, Curiel-Cid R, Sevlever G, Nemeroff CB, Villarreal MF, Vigo DE, Guinjoan SM. Executive functioning in cognitively normal middle-aged offspring of late-onset Alzheimer's disease patients. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 112:23-29. [PMID: 30836202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Episodic memory deficits are traditionally seen as the hallmark cognitive impairment during the prodromal continuum of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). Previous studies identified early brain alterations in regions subserving executive functions in asymptomatic, middle-aged offspring of patients with LOAD (O-LOAD), suggesting that premature episodic memory deficits could be associated to executive dysfunction in this model. We hypothesized that O-LOAD would exhibit reduced executive performance evidenced by increased errors and decreased strategy use on an episodic memory task. We assessed 32 asymptomatic middle-aged O-LOAD and 28 age-equivalent control subjects (CS) with several tests that measure executive functions and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) to measure memory performance. All tests were scored using both traditional and process scores (quantification of errors and strategies underlying overall performance). T-tests were used to compare performance between both groups and Spearman correlations were implemented to measure associations between variables. O-LOAD participants exhibited decreased executive performance compared to CS as it relates to initiation time (Tower of London), mental switching (Trail Making Test B), and interference effects (Stroop Word-Color condition). Traditional RAVLT measures showed a poorer performance by O-LOAD and RAVLT process scores revealed increased interference effects on this group. Positive correlations (rs) were found between the executive measures and several RAVLT measures for O-LOAD but not for CS. In conclusion, O-LOAD participants exhibited early subtle cognitive changes in executive processing. Observed memory difficulties may be associated in part to executive deficits suggesting an interplay between memory and executive functions. Process score impairments were observed earlier than clinical decline on neuropsychological scores in this at-risk cohort and might be useful cognitive markers of preclinical LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Abulafia
- Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencias Aplicadas a las Alteraciones de la Conducta. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Servicio de Psiquiatría. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leticia Fiorentini
- Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencias Aplicadas a las Alteraciones de la Conducta. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Argentina; Servicio de Psiquiatría. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - David A Loewenstein
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center on Aging, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, USA
| | - Rosie Curiel-Cid
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Center on Aging, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, USA
| | - Gustavo Sevlever
- Departamento de Neuropatología y Biología Molecular. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Docencia e Investigación. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Charles B Nemeroff
- Institute of Early Life Adversity Research, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - Mirta F Villarreal
- Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencias Aplicadas a las Alteraciones de la Conducta. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Argentina; Department of Physics (FCEyN), University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel E Vigo
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Argentina; Institute for Biomedical Research (BIOMED), School of Medical Sciences, Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
| | - Salvador M Guinjoan
- Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencias Aplicadas a las Alteraciones de la Conducta. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Argentina; Servicio de Psiquiatría. FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Unidad docente FLENI, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Argentina.
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15
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Li W, Qiu Q, Sun L, Li X, Xiao S. Short-term adverse effects of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele over language function and executive function in healthy older adults. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2019; 15:1855-1861. [PMID: 31371959 PMCID: PMC6628858 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s183064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is known as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. How APOE ε polymorphism affects the language and executive functions of healthy aging subjects remains less clear. Purpose: In this follow-up study, the relationship between APOE status and cognitive performance across various cognitive domains in healthy individuals (without dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI)) over 60 years old was investigated. Patients and methods: Based on multiplex amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 228 subjects (n=228; mean age: 70.59±8.07 years old; male %=40.8%) were divided into three groups, e2 (ε2/ε2 and ε2/ε3, n=35), e3 (ε3/ε3, n=152), and e4 (ε2/ε4, ε3/ε4, and ε4/ε4, n=41). Results: There was no statistical difference (p>0.05) in the general demographic data and neuropsychological tests among the three groups on the baseline; however, e4 group showed a greater drop rate (p<0.05) versus non-carriers on verbal fluency (e2: -0.043±0.221; e3: -0.081±0.239; e4: 0.069±0.329) and Webster picture completion (e2: 0.055±0.281; e3: 0.083±0.428; e4: 0.438±1.280) over the subsequent one year. Conclusion: The findings suggest that possession of the APOE ε4 allele predicted a higher decline on tasks of language function and executive function in healthy elderly. And further research is required to determine whether strengthening the training of language function and executive function will delay the occurrence of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Qiu
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Sun
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Li
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shifu Xiao
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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16
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Todd M, Schneper L, Vasunilashorn SM, Notterman D, Ullman MT, Goldman N. Apolipoprotein E, cognitive function, and cognitive decline among older Taiwanese adults. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206118. [PMID: 30339707 PMCID: PMC6195295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype is believed to play a role in the onset of dementia, though less is known about its relationship with non-pathogenic age-related cognitive decline. We assessed whether APOE was a risk factor for cognitive decline among older Taiwanese adults using nationally representative data. General cognition was measured longitudinally over eleven years; domain-specific cognitive assessments of working memory, declarative learning and three aspects of attention (executive function, alerting, and orientation) were performed once. Having at least one risky APOE allele was associated with more rapid longitudinal cognitive decline compared to those with no risky alleles. Some evidence from the cross-sectional analysis of domain-specific cognitive assessments suggested that APOE genotype may be more closely associated with working memory and declarative learning than with attention. Most genetic studies of cognition include only populations of European descent; extension is crucial. This study confirmed the association between APOE genotype and the rate of cognitive decline in a predominantly Han Chinese population. Additional studies on diverse populations are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Todd
- Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Sarinnapha M. Vasunilashorn
- Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniel Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Ullman
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Noreen Goldman
- Office of Population Research and Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
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17
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O'Donoghue MC, Murphy SE, Zamboni G, Nobre AC, Mackay CE. APOE genotype and cognition in healthy individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease: A review. Cortex 2018; 104:103-123. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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18
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Prieto del Val L, Cantero JL, Baena D, Atienza M. Damage of the temporal lobe and APOE status determine neural compensation in mild cognitive impairment. Cortex 2018; 101:136-153. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 12/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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19
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Scheller E, Schumacher LV, Peter J, Lahr J, Wehrle J, Kaller CP, Gaser C, Klöppel S. Brain Aging and APOE ε4 Interact to Reveal Potential Neuronal Compensation in Healthy Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:74. [PMID: 29615896 PMCID: PMC5869204 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Compensation implies the recruitment of additional neuronal resources to prevent the detrimental effect of age-related neuronal decline on cognition. Recently suggested statistical models comprise behavioral performance, brain activation, and measures related to aging- or disease-specific pathological burden to characterize compensation. Higher chronological age as well as the APOE ε4 allele are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. A more biological approach to characterize aging compared with chronological age is the brain age gap estimation (BrainAGE), taking into account structural brain characteristics. We utilized this estimate in an fMRI experiment together with APOE variant as measures related to pathological burden and aimed at identifying compensatory regions during working memory (WM) processing in a group of 34 healthy older adults. According to published compensation criteria, better performance along with increased brain activation would indicate successful compensation. We examined the moderating effects of BrainAGE on the relationship between task performance and brain activation in prefrontal cortex, as previous studies suggest predominantly frontal compensatory activation. Then we statistically compared them to the effects of chronological age (CA) tested in a previous study. Moreover, we examined the effects of adding APOE variant as a further moderator. Herewith, we strived to uncover neuronal compensation in healthy older adults at risk for neurodegenerative disease. Higher BrainAGE alone was not associated with an increased recruitment in prefrontal cortex. When adding APOE variant as a second moderator, we found an interaction of BrainAGE and APOE variant, such that ε4 carriers recruited right inferior frontal gyrus with higher BrainAGE to maintain WM performance, thus showing a pattern compatible with successful neuronal compensation. Exploratory analyses yielded similar patterns in left inferior and bilateral middle frontal gyrus. These results contrast those from a previous study, where we found no indication of compensation in prefrontal cortex in ε4 carriers with increasing CA. We conclude that BrainAGE together with APOE variant can help to reveal potential neuronal compensation in healthy older adults. Previous results on neuronal compensation in frontal areas corroborate our findings. Compensatory brain regions could be targeted in affected individuals by training or stimulation protocols to maintain cognitive functioning as long as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Scheller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lena V Schumacher
- Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Peter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jacob Lahr
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julius Wehrle
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Berta-Ottenstein-Programme, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph P Kaller
- Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,BrainLinks-BrainTools Cluster of Excellence, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gaser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Klöppel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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20
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Lancaster C, Forster S, Tabet N, Rusted J. Putting attention in the spotlight: The influence of APOE genotype on visual search in mid adulthood. Behav Brain Res 2017; 334:97-104. [PMID: 28750833 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The Apolipoprotein E e4 allele is associated with greater cognitive decline with age, yet effects of this gene are also observed earlier in the lifespan. This research explores genotype differences (e2, e3, e4) in the allocation of visuospatial attention in mid-adulthood. Sixty-six volunteers, aged 45-55 years, completed two paradigms probing the active selection of information at the focus of attention (a dynamic scaling task) and perceptual capacity differences. Two methods of statistical comparison (parametric statistics, Bayesian inference) found no significant difference between e4 carriers and the homozygous e3 group on either the dynamic scaling or perceptual load task. E2 carriers, however, demonstrated less efficient visual search performance on the dynamic scaling task. The lack of an e4 difference in visuospatial attention, despite previous suggestion in the literature of genotype effects, indicates that select attentional processes are intact in e4 carriers in mid-adulthood. The association of e2 genotype with slower visual search performance complicates the premised protective effects of this allele in cognitive ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Lancaster
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9QG, UK.
| | - Sophie Forster
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9QG, UK.
| | - Naji Tabet
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Centre of Dementia Studies, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9PH, UK.
| | - Jennifer Rusted
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9QG, UK.
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21
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Lancaster C, Tabet N, Rusted J. The APOE paradox: do attentional control differences in mid-adulthood reflect risk of late-life cognitive decline. Neurobiol Aging 2016; 48:114-121. [PMID: 27661410 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Possession of an Apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele is an established risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, whereas the less commonly studied e2 variant is premised to offer some protection. This research explores the purported deleterious-protective dichotomy of APOE variants on attentional control in mid-adulthood. Sixty-six volunteers, aged 45-55 years, completed 3 tasks that provided complementary measures of attentional control: prospective memory, sustained attention, and inhibition. Performance was compared between e2 carriers, e4 carriers, and e3 homozygotes (the population norm). Carriers of the e4 allele showed subtle disadvantages, compared with the e3 group, in accuracy of Stroop task and prospective memory performance. Contrary to expectations, e2 carriers showed performance disadvantages in sustained attention. The finding of detrimental effects in attentional control for both e4 and e2 complicates the current model that proposes opposing effects of these variants on later-life cognition. Future research is needed to understand how cognitive differences develop with increasing age, and the physiological mechanisms that underpin these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Lancaster
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Naji Tabet
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Jennifer Rusted
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex, UK.
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22
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Chang L, Douet V, Bloss C, Lee K, Pritchett A, Jernigan TL, Akshoomoff N, Murray SS, Frazier J, Kennedy DN, Amaral DG, Gruen J, Kaufmann WE, Casey BJ, Sowell E, Ernst T. Gray matter maturation and cognition in children with different APOE ε genotypes. Neurology 2016; 87:585-94. [PMID: 27412137 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000002939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aims of the current study were to determine whether children with the 6 different APOE ε genotypes show differences in gray matter maturation, particularly for those with ε4 and ε2 alleles, which are associated with poorer outcomes in many neurologic disorders. METHODS A total of 1,187 healthy children (aged 3-20 years, 52.1% boys, 47.9% girls) with acceptable data from the cross-sectional Pediatric Imaging Neurocognition and Genetics Study were evaluated for the effects of 6 APOE ε genotypes on macroscopic and microscopic cortical and subcortical gray matter structures (measured with 3-tesla MRI and FreeSurfer for automated morphometry) and on cognition (NIH Toolbox). RESULTS Among APOE ε4 carriers, age-related changes in brain structures and cognition varied depending on genotype, with the smallest hippocampi in ε2ε4 children, the lowest hippocampal fractional anisotropy in younger ε4ε4 children, the largest medial orbitofrontal cortical areas in ε3ε4 children, and age-dependent thinning of the entorhinal cortex in ε4ε4 children. Younger ε4ε4 children had the lowest scores on executive function and working memory, while younger ε2ε4 children performed worse on attention tasks. Larger parietal gyri in the younger ε2ε4 children, and thinner temporal and cingulate isthmus cortices or smaller hippocampi in the younger ε4ε4 children, predicted poorer performance on attention or working memory. CONCLUSIONS Our findings validated and extended prior smaller studies that showed altered brain development in APOE ε4-carrier children. The ε4ε4 and ε2ε4 genotypes may negatively influence brain development and brain aging at the extremes of age. Studying APOE ε polymorphisms in young children may provide the earliest indicators for individuals who might benefit from early interventions or preventive measures for future brain injuries and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Chang
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA.
| | - Vanessa Douet
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Cinnamon Bloss
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kristin Lee
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Alexandra Pritchett
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Terry L Jernigan
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Natacha Akshoomoff
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Sarah S Murray
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jean Frazier
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - David N Kennedy
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - David G Amaral
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jeffrey Gruen
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Walter E Kaufmann
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - B J Casey
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Elizabeth Sowell
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
| | - Thomas Ernst
- From the Department of Medicine (L.C., V.D., K.L., A.P., T.E.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii and The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (C.B.), Departments of Psychiatry and Cognitive Science (T.L.J., N.A.), and Department of Pathology (S.S.M.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla; Department of Psychiatry (J.F., D.N.K.), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (D.G.A.), University of California, Davis; Departments of Pediatrics and Investigative Medicine (J.G.), Yale Child Health Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Boston Children's Hospital (W.E.K.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology (B.J.C.), Weil Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Pediatrics (E.S.), University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Children's Hospital (E.S.), Los Angeles, CA
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Rusted J, Carare RO. Are the effects of APOE ϵ4 on cognitive function in nonclinical populations age- and gender-dependent? Neurodegener Dis Manag 2016; 5:37-48. [PMID: 25711453 DOI: 10.2217/nmt.14.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
APOE ϵ4 - one of three possible allelic variants (ϵ2, ϵ3 and ϵ4) of the polymorphic protein APOE - is well characterized in its role as the strongest risk factor (after old age) for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Perhaps less well known, and certainly less well characterized, is that this ϵ4 variant of the APOE gene also is a significant risk factor for age-related cognitive decline in nonclinical populations. This article considers APOE ϵ4 effects on cognition in people without dementia, the extent to which such effects may depend on age and on gender and other interactive biological systems that change across the lifespan.
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Tachibana M, Shinohara M, Yamazaki Y, Liu CC, Rogers J, Bu G, Kanekiyo T. Rescuing effects of RXR agonist bexarotene on aging-related synapse loss depend on neuronal LRP1. Exp Neurol 2015; 277:1-9. [PMID: 26688581 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a critical role in maintaining synaptic integrity by transporting cholesterol to neurons through the low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein-1 (LRP1). Bexarotene, a retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist, has been reported to have potential beneficial effects on cognition by increasing brain apoE levels and lipidation. To investigate the effects of bexarotene on aging-related synapse loss and the contribution of neuronal LRP1 to the pathway, forebrain neuron-specific LRP1 knockout (nLrp1(-/-)) and littermate control mice were administered with bexarotene-formulated diet (100mg/kg/day) or control diet at the age of 20-24 months for 8 weeks. Upon bexarotene treatment, levels of brain apoE and ATP-binding cassette sub-family A member 1 (ABCA1) were significantly increased in both mice. While levels of PSD95, glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1), and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor NR1 subunit (NR1), which are key postsynaptic proteins that regulate synaptic plasticity, were decreased with aging, they were restored by bexarotene treatment in the brains of control but not nLrp1(-/-) mice. These results indicate that the beneficial effects of bexarotene on synaptic integrity depend on the presence of neuronal LRP1. However, we also found that bexarotene treatment led to the activation of glial cells, weight loss and hepatomegaly, which are likely due to hepatic failure. Taken together, our results demonstrate that apoE-targeted treatment through the RXR pathway has a potential beneficial effect on synapses during aging; however, the therapeutic application of bexarotene requires extreme caution due to its toxic side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Tachibana
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Mitsuru Shinohara
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Yu Yamazaki
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Chia-Chen Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Justin Rogers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Guojun Bu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
| | - Takahisa Kanekiyo
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA.
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Stening E, Persson J, Eriksson E, Wahlund LO, Zetterberg H, Söderlund H. Apolipoprotein E ϵ4 is positively related to spatial performance but unrelated to hippocampal volume in healthy young adults. Behav Brain Res 2015; 299:11-8. [PMID: 26581118 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ϵ4 allele is known to be a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been linked to especially episodic memory decline and hippocampal atrophy in both healthy and demented elderly populations. In young adults, ϵ4 carriers have shown better performance in episodic memory compared to non-carriers. Spatial memory, however, has not been thoroughly assessed in relation to APOE in spite of its dependence on the hippocampus. In this study, we assessed the effect of APOE genotype on a variety of spatial and episodic memory tasks as well as hippocampal volume assessed through manual tracing in a sample of young adults (N=123). We also assessed whether potential effects were modulated by sex. The presence of one or more ϵ4 alleles had positive effects on spatial function and memory and object location memory, but no effect on word recognition. Men were superior to women in spatial function and memory but there were no sex differences in the other tasks. In spite of APOE ϵ4 carriers having superior performance in several memory tasks, no difference was found as a function of APOE genotype in hippocampal volume. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show that APOE ϵ4 has a positive effect on spatial ability in young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Stening
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Jonas Persson
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elias Eriksson
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Physiology and Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lars-Olof Wahlund
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
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Possible Association of APOE Genotype with Working Memory in Young Adults. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135894. [PMID: 26287823 PMCID: PMC4545585 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Possession of the ε4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Early adult life effects of ε4 are less well understood. Working memory has been relatively little studied (compared to episodic memory) in relation to APOE genotype despite its importance in cognitive functioning. Our hypothesis was that ε4 would lead to an impairment in working memory in young adults. METHODS We studied working memory using a computerised n-back task in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) at age 18. Data was available for 1049-1927 participants and for the 2- and 3-back versions of the task. Using multiple and multi-level regression controlling for important confounders we examined the association between APOE genotype on accuracy and reaction times. RESULTS There was no evidence of a genotype effect on accuracy when the two difficulty levels were examined separately. There was some evidence to support a deleterious effect of the ε4 allele on n-back accuracy in the multi-level regression. There was weak evidence that the ε22 group were less accurate but the numbers were very low in this group. The ε34 group had faster reaction times than the reference ε33 group in all adjusted analyses but the ε44 group were only faster in the 3-back condition in multi-level analyses. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence of benefit in ε4 carriers, but there was some evidence of a detrimental effect on working memory in this large study.
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Mollica MA, Navarra J, Fernández-Prieto I, Olives J, Tort A, Valech N, Coll-Padrós N, Molinuevo JL, Rami L. Subtle visuomotor difficulties in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. J Neuropsychol 2015; 11:56-73. [PMID: 26172318 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease (Pre-AD) present nonimpaired cognition, as measured by standard neuropsychological tests. However, detecting subtle difficulties in cognitive functions may be necessary for an early diagnosis and intervention. OBJECTIVES A new computer-based visuomotor coordination task (VMC) was developed to investigate the possible presence of early visuomotor difficulties in Pre-AD individuals. Associations between VMC task performance and AD biomarkers were studied. The influence of ApoE status on participants' performance was addressed, as well as the relationship between performance and subjective cognitive decline (SCD). METHODS Sixty-six cognitively normal (CN) elders (19 Pre-AD and 47 control participants [CTR]) and 15 patients with AD performed the VMC task, which consisted in executing visually guided goal-directed movements that required the coordination of the visual and motor systems. All participants underwent ApoE analysis and lumbar puncture. CN participants also completed an extensive standard neuropsychological battery. RESULTS Despite presenting normal cognition in standard tests, Pre-AD participants exhibited higher response times (RTs) to complete the VMC task than CTR (p < .01). Besides, patients with AD showed higher RTs than CTR (p < .001) and Pre-AD (p < .05), and more errors than CTR (p < .005). RTs in ApoE4 carriers were higher than that observed in ApoE4 noncarriers (p < .01). In CN individuals, RTs were related to amyloid β-protein 42 (AB42) biomarker (p < .01) and informant-rated SCD (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS The VMC task is able to discriminate Pre-AD from CTR individuals. Moreover, VMC results are associated with AB42 levels in CN individuals, suggesting that visuomotor dysfunction may be a sensitive marker of Pre-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Mollica
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Navarra
- Experimental Psychology and Brain Disorders Laboratory, Sant Joan de Deu Healthcare Park, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irune Fernández-Prieto
- Experimental Psychology and Brain Disorders Laboratory, Sant Joan de Deu Healthcare Park, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.,Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Department of Basic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Olives
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrià Tort
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Valech
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nina Coll-Padrós
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José L Molinuevo
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Rami
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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Bailey HR, Sargent JQ, Flores S, Nowotny P, Goate A, Zacks JM. APOE ε4 genotype predicts memory for everyday activities. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2015; 22:639-66. [PMID: 25754878 PMCID: PMC4537694 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2015.1020916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The apolipoprotein E (ApOE) ε4 allele is associated with neuropathological buildup of amyloid in the brain, and with lower performance on some laboratory measures of memory in some populations. In two studies, we tested whether ApOE genotype affects memory for everyday activities. In Study 1, participants aged 20-79 years old (n = 188) watched movies of actors engaged in daily activities and completed memory tests for the activities in the movies. In Study 2, cognitively healthy and demented older adults (n = 97) watched and remembered similar movies, and also underwent structural MRI scanning. All participants provided saliva samples for genetic analysis. In both samples we found that, in older adults, ApOE ε4 carriers demonstrated worse everyday memory performance than did ε4 noncarriers. In Study 2, ApOE ε4 carriers had smaller medial temporal lobes (MTL) volumes, and MTL volume mediated the relationship between ApOE genotype and everyday memory performance. These everyday memory tasks measure genetically determined cognitive decline that can occur prior to a clinical diagnosis of dementia. Further, these tasks are easily administered and may be a useful clinical tool in identifying ε4 carriers who may be at risk for MTL atrophy and further cognitive decline that is a common characteristic of the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R Bailey
- a Department of Psychology , Washington University , St. Louis , MO , USA
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Ungar L, Altmann A, Greicius MD. Apolipoprotein E, gender, and Alzheimer's disease: an overlooked, but potent and promising interaction. Brain Imaging Behav 2014; 8:262-73. [PMID: 24293121 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-013-9272-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an increasingly prevalent, fatal neurodegenerative disease that has proven resistant, thus far, to all attempts to prevent it, forestall it, or slow its progression. The ε4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE4) is a potent genetic risk factor for sporadic and late-onset familial AD. While the link between APOE4 and AD is strong, many expected effects, like increasing the risk of conversion from MCI to AD, have not been widely replicable. One critical, and commonly overlooked, feature of the APOE4 link to AD is that several lines of evidence suggest it is far more pronounced in women than in men. Here we review previous literature on the APOE4 by gender interaction with a particular focus on imaging-related studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Ungar
- Functional Imaging in Neuropsychiatric Disorders (FIND) Lab, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA,
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Lundervold AJ, Wollschläger D, Wehling E. Age and sex related changes in episodic memory function in middle aged and older adults. Scand J Psychol 2014; 55:225-32. [PMID: 24601911 PMCID: PMC4314696 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Age-related change in episodic memory function is commonly reported in older adults. When detected on neuropsychological tests, it may still be difficult to distinguish normal from pathological changes. The present study investigates age-and sex-related changes in a group of healthy middle-aged and older adults, participating in a three-wave study on cognitive aging. The California Verbal Learning test (CVLT-II) was used to assess their episodic memory function. A cross-sectional analysis of results from the first wave showed higher performance in females than males, with a steeper age-related decline in males. This was confirmed in a longitudinal analysis using a mixed effects regression model, but with a lower age-related change and smaller difference between the sexes. Information about learning strategies and errors in the third wave turned out to contribute significantly to explain change in episodic memory function across the three waves. We argue that the results from the longitudinal analyses are generalizable to the population of healthy middle-aged and older individuals, and that they could be useful in guiding clinicians when evaluating individuals with respect to cognitive change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astri J Lundervold
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Center for research on Aging and Dementia, Haraldsplass Deaconal Hospital, Bergen, Norway; K. G. Jebsen Centre for Research on Neuropsychiatric Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Walhovd KB, Fjell AM, Espeseth T. Cognitive decline and brain pathology in aging--need for a dimensional, lifespan and systems vulnerability view. Scand J Psychol 2014; 55:244-54. [PMID: 24730622 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Changes in brain structure and activity as well as cognitive function are commonly seen in aging. However, it is not known when aging of brain and cognition starts, and how much of the changes observed in seemingly healthy older adults that can be ascribed to incipient neurodegenerative disease. Recent research has yielded evidence that the borders between development and aging sometimes can be fuzzy, as can the borders between dementing disease and normal age changes. In this review, we argue that many factors affecting cognitive decline and dementia represents quantitative rather than qualitative differences in characteristics that commonly exist in the population. Further, factors known to affect brain and cognition in aging will often do so through a life-long accumulation of impact, and does not need to be specific to aging. And finally, a host of environmental and genetic factors and their interplay determine optimal aging, leaving room for potential for environmental interventions to affect the outcome of the aging process. Together, we argue that these factors call for a dimensional rather than categorical, lifespan rather than aging, and multidimensional systems-vulnerability rather than simple "hypothetical biomarker" model of age-associated cognitive decline and dementia. This has implications for how we should view lifespan trajectories of change in brain and cognitive function, and how we can study, prevent, diagnose and treat age-associated cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine B Walhovd
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Unit of neuropsychology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
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Evans S, Dowell NG, Tabet N, Tofts PS, King SL, Rusted JM. Cognitive and neural signatures of the APOE E4 allele in mid-aged adults. Neurobiol Aging 2014; 35:1615-23. [PMID: 24582638 PMCID: PMC4001126 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.01.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele is strongly associated with increased risk of cognitive impairments in older adulthood. There is also a possible link to enhanced cognitive performance in younger adults, and the APOE e4 allele may constitute an example of antagonistic pleiotropy. The aim of this work was to investigate the cognitive and neural (functional) effects of the APOE e4 allele during mid-age (45–55 years), where a transition toward cognitive deficit might be expected. APOE e4 carriers (e4+) were compared with non-e4 carriers (e4−) on tasks of sustained and covert attention and prospective memory, and functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired. Performance by e4+ was equivalent or better than e4− on all 3 tasks, although performance benefits were less pronounced than in youth. Neurally, e4+ showed less task-related recruitment of extrastriate and parietal areas. This became more evident when neural activation data were compared with that of young adults acquired in a parallel study. As expected, mid-age participants showed more diffuse neural activation. Notable was the fact that e4+ showed a relative inability to recruit parietal regions as they aged. This was coupled with a tendency to show greater recruitment of frontal regions, and underactivation of extrastriate visual regions. Thus, mid-age e4+ show a pattern of neural recruitment usually seen later in life, possibly reflecting the source of an accelerated aging profile that describes the e4 genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Evans
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Nicholas G Dowell
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton, UK
| | - Naji Tabet
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, Brighton, UK
| | - Paul S Tofts
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton, UK
| | - Sarah L King
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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Evans S, Dowell NG, Tabet N, Tofts PS, King SL, Gray M, Rusted JM. Nicotine effects on attentional reorienting in mid-age adults, and interactions with apolipoprotein E status. J Psychopharmacol 2013; 27:1007-14. [PMID: 23958867 DOI: 10.1177/0269881113499828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine has been shown to speed attentional reorienting in cued target detection tasks, and work in young adults suggest that individuals carrying the apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele might show greater sensitivity to the cognitive effects of nicotine. The APOE e4 allele is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and increased sensitivity to nicotine might reflect early cholinergic differences that relate to an enhanced risk of AD. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of nicotine and APOE on attentional reorienting in mid-age participants. APOE e4 (e4+) were compared to non-APOE e4 (e4-) carriers, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data acquired. Neural data showed that nicotine effects, and the network involved in reorienting, was consistent with studies in young adults. Nicotine improved attentional reorienting at the trend level. Although there were no behavioural effects of genotype, genotype effects were present neurally: e4+ showed decreased extrastriate activation, and enhanced effects of nicotine on reorienting in right middle frontal regions. Drug by genotype interactions were present in hippocampal and anterior cingulate regions. These results are consistent with differential sensitivity to nicotine according to APOE status, possibly reflecting abnormal cholinergic function and accelerated cognitive ageing in mid-age e4+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Evans
- 1School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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Downer B, Zanjani F, Fardo DW. The relationship between midlife and late life alcohol consumption, APOE e4 and the decline in learning and memory among older adults. Alcohol Alcohol 2013; 49:17-22. [PMID: 24049153 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agt144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The aim of the study was to determine whether the trajectory of learning and memory is modified according to an interaction between midlife or late life alcohol consumption status and the presence of one or more APOE e4 alleles. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of cognitive, genetic and alcohol consumption data collected from members of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort. RESULTS Light and moderate alcohol consumption during late life was associated with greater decline in learning and memory among APOE e4 carriers, whereas light and moderate alcohol consumption was associated with an increase in learning and memory among non-APOE e4 carriers. There was not a significant interaction between midlife alcohol consumption status and APOE e4 on the trajectory of learning and memory. CONCLUSION Light to moderate alcohol consumption during late life may protect against a decline in learning and memory for non-APOE e4 allele carriers, but not for older adults who carry one or more APOE e4 alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Downer
- Corresponding author: Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, 740 South Limestone, J524 KY Clinic, Lexington, KY, 40536-0284, USA.
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Reinvang I, Espeseth T, Westlye LT. APOE-related biomarker profiles in non-pathological aging and early phases of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2013; 37:1322-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Revised: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Verghese J, Holtzer R, Wang C, Katz MJ, Barzilai N, Lipton RB. Role of APOE genotype in gait decline and disability in aging. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2013; 68:1395-401. [PMID: 23902934 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glt115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although apolipoprotein E (APOE) genetic variation may influence risk of gait decline and disability in aging through multiple mechanisms, a systematic examination of this relationship has been lacking. Our objective was to quantify the risk of gait decline and disability associated with the APOE ε4 allele in aging. METHODS We evaluated 627 community-dwelling adults aged 70 and older (white 67.8%) with APOE genotype and quantitative gait measurements participating in the Einstein Aging Study over a median follow-up of 3.0 years. Main outcomes were gait speed decline (cm/s/year) and incident disability. RESULTS APOE ε4 allele frequency was 24.1%. Presence of APOE ε4 was not significantly associated with gait speed decline overall (p = .37) but was associated with faster gait speed decline in older men (estimate: -1.16, 95% CI: -2.31 to -0.01, p = .04). The interaction between the ε4 allele and male sex predicted gait speed decline (estimate: -1.70, 95% CI: -3.33 to -0.07, p = .04). Presence of the APOE ε4 allele was associated with increased risk of disability in older men (HR 3.72, 95% CI: 1.44-9.59, p = .007). Associations of the ε4 allele with study outcomes remained significant even after accounting for several potential confounders including vascular and cognitive status. The strength of the associations was stronger in the white subgroup. CONCLUSION This preliminary report suggests that the APOE ε4 allele is associated with increased risk of gait speed decline and disability in older men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Verghese
- MBBS, Division of Cognitive and Motor Aging, Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1165 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461.
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Leckie RL, Weinstein AM, Hodzic JC, Erickson KI. Potential moderators of physical activity on brain health. J Aging Res 2012; 2012:948981. [PMID: 23304508 PMCID: PMC3523571 DOI: 10.1155/2012/948981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Revised: 10/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related cognitive decline is linked to numerous molecular, structural, and functional changes in the brain. However, physical activity is a promising method of reducing unfavorable age-related changes. Physical activity exerts its effects on the brain through many molecular pathways, some of which are regulated by genetic variants in humans. In this paper, we highlight genes including apolipoprotein E (APOE), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) along with dietary omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as potential moderators of the effect of physical activity on brain health. There are a growing number of studies indicating that physical activity might mitigate the genetic risks for disease and brain dysfunction and that the combination of greater amounts of DHA intake with physical activity might promote better brain function than either treatment alone. Understanding whether genes or other lifestyles moderate the effects of physical activity on neurocognitive health is necessary for delineating the pathways by which brain health can be enhanced and for grasping the individual variation in the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on the brain and cognition. There is a need for future research to continue to assess the factors that moderate the effects of physical activity on neurocognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina L. Leckie
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Sennott Square 3417, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Andrea M. Weinstein
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Sennott Square 3417, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Sennott Square 3417, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jennifer C. Hodzic
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Sennott Square 3417, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kirk I. Erickson
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Sennott Square 3417, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Sennott Square 3417, 210 S. Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Westlye ET, Hodneland E, Haász J, Espeseth T, Lundervold A, Lundervold AJ. Episodic memory of APOE ε4 carriers is correlated with fractional anisotropy, but not cortical thickness, in the medial temporal lobe. Neuroimage 2012; 63:507-16. [PMID: 22796460 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.06.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2012] [Revised: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E (apoE, protein; APOE, gene) is the most important genetic risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cortical structures in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) are important for memory function and are affected early in AD. Both gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) structures in the MTL have been reported to display AD related changes in healthy APOE ε4 carriers, but the effects are relatively small and somewhat deviating. Still, there is a lack of studies directly linking structural measures with performance on psychometric tests in ε4+ individuals. We hypothesized that intact WM integrity in the MTL facilitates episodic memory, and predicted a higher correlation between WM integrity and memory performance in APOE ε4 carriers due to a possible limiting effect of WM microstructure. In the present study of 92 healthy (MMSE>27) participants we acquired T1 3D and DTI images from a 1.5T MRI scanner, and tested the participants with California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT-II). The study had two main aims: 1) to relate verbal memory performance to entorhinal WM (EWM) integrity in APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers, and 2) to investigate APOE ε4 effects on EWM and EC thickness. We observed a strong, positive correlation between FA in the EWM and memory performance, which was driven solely by APOE ε4 carriers. These effects were significant while controlling for age, sex, EWM volume and EC thickness. Although EC thickness was significantly reduced in ε4 carriers, we did not find a relationship between EC thickness and memory performance. Thus, increased susceptibility of the WM structures underpinning the entorhinal-hippocampal network, offers a plausible explanation for the earlier onset of cognitive decline previously reported in APOE ε4 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erling Tjelta Westlye
- Neuroinformatics and Image Analysis Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, NO-5020 Bergen, Norway.
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Imaging and Cognitive Genetics: The Norwegian Cognitive NeuroGenetics Sample. Twin Res Hum Genet 2012; 15:442-52. [DOI: 10.1017/thg.2012.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Data collection for the Norwegian Cognitive NeuroGenetics sample (NCNG) was initiated in 2003 with a research grant (to Ivar Reinvang) to study cognitive aging, brain function, and genetic risk factors. The original focus was on the effects of aging (from middle age and up) and candidate genes (e.g., APOE, CHRNA4) in cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, with the cognitive and MRI-based data primarily being used for this purpose. However, as the main topic of the project broadened from cognitive aging to imaging and cognitive genetics more generally, the sample size, age range of the participants, and scope of available phenotypes and genotypes, have developed beyond the initial project. In 2009, a genome-wide association (GWA) study was undertaken, and the NCNG proper was established to study the genetics of cognitive and brain function more comprehensively. The NCNG is now controlled by the NCNG Study Group, which consists of the present authors. Prominent features of the NCNG are the adult life-span coverage of healthy participants with high-dimensional imaging, and cognitive data from a genetically homogenous sample. Another unique property is the large-scale (sample size 300–700) use of experimental cognitive tasks focusing on attention and working memory. The NCNG data is now used in numerous ongoing GWA-based studies and has contributed to several international consortia on imaging and cognitive genetics. The objective of the following presentation is to give other researchers the information necessary to evaluate possible contributions from the NCNG to various multi-sample data analyses.
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Executive Dysfunction in MCI: Subtype or Early Symptom. Int J Alzheimers Dis 2012; 2012:936272. [PMID: 22693679 PMCID: PMC3369514 DOI: 10.1155/2012/936272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Revised: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may take several forms, and amnestic MCI (aMCI) has been recognized as an early stage of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Impairment in executive functions including attention (eMCI) may be indicative of several neurodegenerative conditions. Executive impairment is frequently found in aMCI, it is significant for prognosis, and patients with eMCI may go on to develop AD. Recent studies have found changes in white matter integrity in patients with eMCI to be more sensitive than measures of cortical atrophy. Studies of genetic high-risk groups using sensitive cognitive neuroscience paradigms indicate that changes in executive function may be a cognitive marker useful for tracking development in an AD pathophysiological process.
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Bender AR, Raz N. Age-related differences in memory and executive functions in healthy APOE ɛ4 carriers: the contribution of individual differences in prefrontal volumes and systolic blood pressure. Neuropsychologia 2012; 50:704-14. [PMID: 22245009 PMCID: PMC3309165 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 12/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Advanced age and vascular risk are associated with declines in the volumes of multiple brain regions, especially the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. Older adults, even unencumbered by declining health, perform less well than their younger counterparts in multiple cognitive domains, such as episodic memory, executive functions, and speed of perceptual processing. Presence of a known genetic risk factor for cognitive decline and vascular disease, the ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, accounts for some share of those declines; however, the extent of the joint contribution of genetic and physiological vascular risk factors on the aging brain and cognition is unclear. In a sample of healthy adults (age 19-77), we examined the effects of a vascular risk indicator (systolic blood pressure, SBP) and volumes of hippocampus (HC), lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC), and prefrontal white matter (pFWM) on processing speed, working memory (WM), and recognition memory. Using path analyses, we modeled indirect effects of age, SBP, and brain volumes on processing speed, WM, and memory and compared the patterns of structural relations among those variables in APOE ɛ4 carriers and ɛ3 homozygotes. Among ɛ4 carriers, age differences in WM were explained by increase in SBP, reduced FWM volume, and slower processing. In contrast, lPFC and FWM volumes, but not BP, explained a share of age differences in WM among ɛ3 homozygotes. Thus, even in healthy older carriers of the APOE ɛ4 allele, clinically unremarkable increase in vascular risk may be associated with reduced frontal volumes and impaired cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Bender
- Department of Psychology & Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, United States
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Alichniewicz KK, Brunner F, Klünemann HH, Greenlee MW. Structural and functional neural correlates of visuospatial information processing in normal aging and amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Aging 2012; 33:2782-97. [PMID: 22429887 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Revised: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of cognitive changes related to human aging and their underlying neural processes is challenged by the distinction between normal and pathological aging. In our study, the neural correlates of visuospatial working memory (VSWM) in young persons (YC), healthy older adults (HC) and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) were investigated. Effects of the genetic risk factor apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 on a VSWM task were analyzed for HC and aMCI patients. Higher cortical activation in extrastriate occipital regions and significantly decreased brain volumes in frontoparietal areas were observed in HC compared with young persons. Also, reduced cortical activation in the right middle frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus was observed in aMCI-patients compared with HC. Thus, attenuated cortical activation during VSWM tasks is related to the formation of aMCI and may serve as an early marker for cognitive decline. In contrast to previous studies, no significant apolipoprotein E-linked differences were found between HC and aMCI groups.
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Lane RM, He Y. Butyrylcholinesterase genotype and gender influence Alzheimer's disease phenotype. Alzheimers Dement 2012; 9:e1-73. [PMID: 22402324 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2010] [Revised: 09/04/2010] [Accepted: 12/02/2010] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Retrospective data are presented to support a spectrum of early Alzheimer's disease (AD) along a continuum defined by gender and genotype. The putative neurodegenerative mechanisms driving distinct phenotypes at each end of the spectrum are glial hypoactivity associated with early failure of synaptic cholinergic neurotransmission and glial overactivation associated with loss of neural network connectivity due to accelerated age-related breakdown of myelin. In early AD, male butyrylcholinesterase K-variant carriers with one or two apolipoprotein ɛ4 alleles have prominent medial temporal atrophy, synaptic failure, cognitive decline, and accumulation of aggregated beta-amyloid peptide. Increasing synaptic acetylcholine in damaged but still functional cholinergic synapses improves cognitive symptoms, whereas increasing the ability of glia to support synapses and to clear beta-amyloid peptide might be disease-modifying. Conversely, chronic glial overactivation can also drive degenerative processes and in butyrylcholinesterase K-variant negative females generalized glial overactivation may be the main driver from mild cognitive impairment to AD. Females are more likely than males to have accelerated age-related myelin breakdown, more widespread white matter loss, loss of neural network connectivity, whole brain atrophy, and functional decline. Increasing extracellular acetylcholine levels blocks glial activation, reduces myelin loss and damage to neural network connectivity, and is disease-modifying. Between extremes characterized by gender, genotype, and age, pathophysiology may be mixed and this spectrum may explain much of the heterogeneity of amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Preservation of the functional integrity of the neural network may be an important component of strengthening cognitive reserve and significantly delaying the onset and progression of dementia, particularly in females. Prospective confirmation of these hypotheses is required. Implications for future research and therapeutic opportunities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger M Lane
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Global Clinical Research, Wallingford, CT, USA.
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Deeny SP, Winchester J, Nichol K, Roth SM, Wu JC, Dick M, Cotman CW. Cardiovascular fitness is associated with altered cortical glucose metabolism during working memory in ɛ4 carriers. Alzheimers Dement 2012; 8:352-6. [PMID: 22226798 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The possibility that ɛ4 may modulate the effects of fitness in the brain remains controversial. The present exploratory FDG-PET study aimed to better understand the relationship among ɛ4, fitness, and cerebral metabolism in 18 healthy aged women (nine carriers, nine noncarriers) during working memory. METHODS Participants were evaluated using maximal level of oxygen consumption, California Verbal Learning Test, and FDG-PET, which were collected at rest and during completion of the Sternberg working memory task. RESULTS Resting FDG-PET did not differ between carriers and noncarriers. Significant effects of fitness on FDG-PET during working memory were noted in the ɛ4 carriers only. High fit ɛ4 carriers had greater glucose uptake in the temporal lobe than the low fit ɛ4 carriers, but low fit ɛ4 carriers had greater glucose uptake in the frontal and parietal lobes. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that fitness differentially affects cerebral metabolism in ɛ4 carriers only, consistent with previous findings that the effects of fitness may be more pronounced in populations genetically at risk for cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Deeny
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, USA
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Kremen WS, Panizzon MS, Xian H, Barch DM, Franz CE, Grant MD, Toomey R, Lyons MJ. Genetic architecture of context processing in late middle age: more than one underlying mechanism. Psychol Aging 2011; 26:852-63. [PMID: 21875218 DOI: 10.1037/a0025098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Studies comparing young and older adults suggest a deficit in processing context information as a key mechanism underlying cognitive aging. However, the genetic architecture of context processing has not been examined. Consistent with previous results, we found evidence of functionally dissociable components of context processing accuracy in 1127 late middle-aged twins ages 51-60. One component emphasizes use of context cues to prepare responses (proactive cognitive control), and the other emphasizes adjustment of responses after probes are presented (reactive control). Approximately one-quarter of the variance in each component was accounted for by genes. Multivariate twin analysis indicated that genetic factors underlying two important components of context processing were independent of one another, thus implicating more than one underlying mechanism. Slower reaction time (RT) on noncontext processing trials was positively correlated with errors on the strongly proactive control component on which young adults outperform older adults, but RT was negatively correlated with errors on the strongly reactive control component on which older adults perform better. Although this RT measure was uncorrelated with chronological age in our age-homogeneous sample, slower RT was associated with performance patterns that were more like older adults. However, this did not generalize to other processing speed measures. Genetic correlations, which reflect shared genetic variance, paralleled the phenotypic correlations. There was also a positive genetic correlation between general cognitive ability and accuracy on the proactive control component, but there were still mostly distinct genetic influences underlying these measures. In contrast, the reactive control component was unrelated to general cognitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Behavioral Genomics, University of California, San Diego, USA.
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Lillenes MS, Espeseth T, Støen M, Lundervold AJ, Frye SA, Rootwelt H, Reinvang I, Tønjum T. DNA base excision repair gene polymorphisms modulate human cognitive performance and decline during normal life span. Mech Ageing Dev 2011; 132:449-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2010] [Revised: 06/25/2011] [Accepted: 08/14/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Reinvang I, Deary IJ, Fjell AM, Steen VM, Espeseth T, Parasuraman R. Neurogenetic effects on cognition in aging brains: a window of opportunity for intervention? Front Aging Neurosci 2010; 2:143. [PMID: 21103005 PMCID: PMC2987509 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2010.00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2010] [Accepted: 09/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of genetic influences on cognitive aging can constrain and guide interventions aimed at limiting age-related cognitive decline in older adults. Progress in understanding the neural basis of cognitive aging also requires a better understanding of the neurogenetics of cognition. This selective review article describes studies aimed at deriving specific neurogenetic information from three parallel and interrelated phenotype-based approaches: psychometric constructs, cognitive neuroscience-based processing measures, and brain imaging morphometric data. Developments in newer genetic analysis tools, including genome wide association, are also described. In particular, we focus on models for establishing genotype-phenotype associations within an explanatory framework linking molecular, brain, and cognitive levels of analysis. Such multiple-phenotype approaches indicate that individual variation in genes central to maintaining synaptic integrity, neurotransmitter function, and synaptic plasticity are important in affecting age-related changes in brain structure and cognition. Investigating phenotypes at multiple levels is recommended as a means to advance understanding of the neural impact of genetic variants relevant to cognitive aging. Further knowledge regarding the mechanisms of interaction between genetic and preventative procedures will in turn help in understanding the ameliorative effect of various experiential and lifestyle factors on age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivar Reinvang
- Department of Psychology, University of OsloOslo, Norway
| | - Ian J. Deary
- Department of Psychology, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, UK
| | | | - Vidar M. Steen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of BergenBergen, Norway
- Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University HospitalBergen, Norway
| | | | - Raja Parasuraman
- Department of Psychology, George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA, USA
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