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Daly J, De Luca F, Berens SC, Field AP, Rusted JM, Bird CM. The effect of apolipoprotein E genotype on spatial processing in humans: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Cortex 2024; 177:268-284. [PMID: 38878339 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE4) gene is an established risk factor for Alzheimer's disease but its impact on cognition in healthy adults across the lifespan is unclear. One cognitive domain that is affected early in the course of Alzheimer's disease is spatial cognition, yet the evidence for APOE-related changes in spatial cognition is mixed. In this meta-analysis we assessed the impact of carrying the APOE4 allele on five subdomains of spatial cognition across the lifespan. We included studies of healthy human participants where an APOE4-carrier group (heterozygous or homozygous) could be compared to a homozygous group of APOE3-carriers. We identified 156 studies in total from three databases (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science) as well as through searching cited literature and contacting authors for unpublished data. 122 studies involving 32,547 participants were included in a meta-analysis, and the remaining studies are included in a descriptive review. APOE4 carriers scored significantly lower than APOE3 carriers (θˆ = -.08 [-.14, -.02]) on tests of spatial long-term memory; this effect was very small and was not modulated by age. On other subdomains of spatial cognition (spatial construction, spatial working memory, spatial reasoning, navigation) there were no effects of genotype. Overall, our results demonstrate that the APOE4 allele exerts little influence on spatial cognitive abilities in healthy adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Daly
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Flavia De Luca
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Sam C Berens
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Andy P Field
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | | | - Chris M Bird
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
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2
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Wybitul M, Buchmann A, Langer N, Hock C, Treyer V, Gietl A. Trajectories of amyloid beta accumulation - Unveiling the relationship with APOE genotype and cognitive decline. Neurobiol Aging 2024; 139:44-53. [PMID: 38593527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid beta (Aβ) follows a sigmoidal time function with varying accumulation rates. We studied how the position on this function, reflected by different Aβ accumulation phases, influences APOE ɛ4's association with Aβ and cognitive decline in 503 participants without dementia using Aβ-PET imaging over 5.3-years. First, Aβ load and accumulation were analyzed irrespective of phases using linear mixed regression. Generally, ɛ4 carriers displayed a higher Aβ load. Moreover, Aβ normal (Aβ-) ɛ4 carriers demonstrated higher accumulation. Next, we categorized accumulation phases as "decrease", "stable", or "increase" based on trajectory shapes. After excluding the Aβ-/decrease participants from the initial regression, the difference in accumulation attributable to genotype among Aβ- individuals was no longer significant. Further analysis revealed that in increase phases, Aβ accumulation was higher among noncarriers, indicating a genotype-related timeline shift. Finally, cognitive decline was analyzed across phases and was already evident in the Aβ-/increase phase. Our results encourage early interventions for ɛ4 carriers and imply that monitoring accumulating Aβ- individuals might help identify those at risk for cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Wybitul
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zurich, Zurich 8050, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Buchmann
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Langer
- Methods of Plasticity Research, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich 8050, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Hock
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland; Neurimmune, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland
| | - Valerie Treyer
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland; Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich 8091, Switzerland.
| | - Anton Gietl
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland; University Hospital for Geriatric Psychiatry, Zurich 8008, Switzerland
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Heise V, Offer A, Whiteley W, Mackay CE, Armitage JM, Parish S. A comprehensive analysis of APOE genotype effects on human brain structure in the UK Biobank. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:143. [PMID: 38472178 PMCID: PMC10933274 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02848-5] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is increased in carriers of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele and decreased in ε2 allele carriers compared with the ε3ε3 genotype. The aim of this study was to determine whether: the APOE genotype affects brain grey (GM) or white matter (WM) structure; and if differences exist, the age when they become apparent and whether there are differential effects by sex. We used cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging data from ~43,000 (28,494 after pre-processing) white British cognitively healthy participants (7,446 APOE ε4 carriers) aged 45-80 years from the UK Biobank cohort and investigated image-derived phenotypes (IDPs). We observed no statistically significant effects of APOE genotype on GM structure volumes or median T2* in subcortical structures, a measure related to iron content. The volume of white matter hyperintensities differed significantly between APOE genotype groups with higher volumes in APOE ε4ε4 (effect size 0.14 standard deviations [SD]) and ε3ε4 carriers (effect size 0.04 SD) but no differences in ε2 carriers compared with ε3ε3 carriers. WM integrity measures in the dorsal (mean diffusivity [MD]) and ventral cingulum (MD and intracellular volume fraction), posterior thalamic radiation (MD and isotropic volume fraction) and sagittal stratum (MD) indicated lower integrity in APOE ε4ε4 carriers (effect sizes around 0.2-0.3 SD) and ε3ε4 (effect sizes around 0.05 SD) carriers but no differences in ε2 carriers compared with the APOE ε3ε3 genotype. Effects did not differ between men and women. APOE ε4 homozygotes had lower WM integrity specifically at older ages with a steeper decline of WM integrity from the age of 60 that corresponds to around 5 years greater "brain age". APOE genotype affects various white matters measures, which might be indicative of preclinical AD processes. This hypothesis can be assessed in future when clinical outcomes become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Heise
- Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alison Offer
- Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - William Whiteley
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Clare E Mackay
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jane M Armitage
- Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah Parish
- Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Nepomuceno M, Monllor P, Cardells MJ, Ftara A, Magallon M, Dasí F, Badia MC, Viña J, Lloret A. Redox-associated changes in healthy individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease. A ten-year follow-up study. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 215:56-63. [PMID: 38417685 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Carrying an allele 4 of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is the best-established genetic risk factor to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD). Fifty percent of ApoE4/4 individuals develop the disease at 70 years of age. ApoE3/4 carriers have a lower risk of developing the disease, still 50% of them suffer AD at around 80 years. In a previous study we showed that healthy young individuals, who had a parent with AD and were carriers of at least one ApoE4 allele displayed reductive stress. This was evidenced as a decrease in oxidative markers, such as oxidized glutathione, p-p38, and NADP+/NADPH ratio, and an increase of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase (Gpx1) and both the catalytic and regulatory subunits of glutamyl-cysteinyl (GCLM and GCLC). Moreover, we found an increase in stress-related proteins involved in tau physiopathology. Now, 10 years later, we have conducted a follow-up study measuring the same parameters in the same cohort. Our results show that reductive stress has reversed, as we could now observe an increase in lipid peroxidation and in the oxidation of glutathione along with a decrease in the expression of Gpx1 and SOD1 antioxidant enzymes in ApoE4 carriers. Furthermore, we found an increase in plasma levels of IL1β levels and in PKR (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 2) gene expression in isolated lymphocytes. Altogether, our results suggest that, in the continuum of Alzheimer's disease, people at risk of developing the disease go through different redox phases, from stablished reductive stress to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Nepomuceno
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paloma Monllor
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of La Plana, Vila-Real, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Cardells
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Artemis Ftara
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Magallon
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco Dasí
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Jose Viña
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ana Lloret
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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Bonnar O, Shaw K, Anderle S, Grijseels DM, Clarke D, Bell L, King SL, Hall CN. APOE4 expression confers a mild, persistent reduction in neurovascular function in the visual cortex and hippocampus of awake mice. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2023; 43:1826-1841. [PMID: 37350319 PMCID: PMC10676141 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231172842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Vascular factors are known to be early and important players in Alzheimer's disease (AD) development, however the role of the ε4 allele of the Apolipoprotein (APOE) gene (a risk factor for developing AD) remains unclear. APOE4 genotype is associated with early and severe neocortical vascular deficits in anaesthetised mice, but in humans, vascular and cognitive dysfunction are focused on the hippocampal formation and appear later. How APOE4 might interact with the vasculature to confer AD risk during the preclinical phase represents a gap in existing knowledge. To avoid potential confounds of anaesthesia and to explore regions most relevant for human disease, we studied the visual cortex and hippocampus of awake APOE3 and APOE4-TR mice using 2-photon microscopy of neurons and blood vessels. We found mild vascular deficits: vascular density and functional hyperaemia were unaffected in APOE4 mice, and neuronal or vascular function did not decrease up to late middle-age. Instead, vascular responsiveness was lower, arteriole vasomotion was reduced and neuronal calcium signals during visual stimulation were increased. This suggests that, alone, APOE4 expression is not catastrophic but stably alters neurovascular physiology. We suggest this state makes APOE4 carriers more sensitive to subsequent insults such as injury or beta amyloid accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Silvia Anderle
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Dori M Grijseels
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Devin Clarke
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Laura Bell
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Sarah L King
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
| | - Catherine N Hall
- School of Psychology and Sussex Neuroscience, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
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Rittman T. Functional Networks: A New Window Into Alzheimer's Disease Subtypes. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:752-753. [PMID: 37045510 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Rittman
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Essers E, Binter AC, Neumann A, White T, Alemany S, Guxens M. Air pollution exposure during pregnancy and childhood, APOE ε4 status and Alzheimer polygenic risk score, and brain structural morphology in preadolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114595. [PMID: 36257450 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution exposure is associated with impaired neurodevelopment, altered structural brain morphology in children, and neurodegenerative disorders. Differential susceptibility to air pollution may be influenced by genetic features. OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype or the polygenic risk score (PRS) for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) modify the association between air pollution exposure during pregnancy and childhood and structural brain morphology in preadolescents. METHODS We included 1186 children from the Generation R Study. Concentrations of fourteen air pollutants were calculated at participants' home addresses during pregnancy and childhood using land-use-regression models. Structural brain images were collected at age 9-12 years to assess cortical and subcortical brain volumes. APOE status and PRS for AD were examined as genetic modifiers. Linear regression models were used to conduct single-pollutant and multi-pollutant (using the Deletion/Substitution/Addition algorithm) analyses with a two-way interaction between air pollution and each genetic modifier. RESULTS Higher pregnancy coarse particulate matter (PMcoarse) and childhood polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure was differentially associated with larger cerebral white matter volume in APOE ε4 carriers compared to non-carriers (29,485 mm3 (95% CI 6,189; 52,781) and 18,663 mm3 (469; 36,856), respectively). Higher pregnancy PMcoarse exposure was differentially associated with larger cortical grey matter volume in children with higher compared to lower PRS for AD (19436 mm3 (825, 38,046)). DISCUSSION APOE status and PRS for AD possibly modify the association between air pollution exposure and brain structural morphology in preadolescents. Higher air pollution exposure is associated with larger cortical volumes in APOE ε4 carriers and children with a high PRS for AD. This is in line with typical brain development, suggesting an antagonistic pleiotropic effect of these genetic features (i.e., protective effect in early-life, but neurodegenerative effect in adulthood). However, we cannot discard chance findings. Future studies should evaluate trajectorial brain development using a longitudinal design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmée Essers
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Anne-Claire Binter
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alexander Neumann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Complex Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Tonya White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Silvia Alemany
- Psychiatric Genetics Unit, Group of Psychiatry, Mental Health, and Addiction, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Network Research Centre on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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Mascarenhas Fonseca L, Sage Chaytor N, Olufadi Y, Buchwald D, Galvin JE, Schmitter-Edgecombe M, Suchy-Dicey A. Intraindividual Cognitive Variability and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Aging American Indians: Data from the Strong Heart Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 91:1395-1407. [PMID: 36641671 PMCID: PMC9974814 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220825] [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] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND American Indians have high prevalence of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) compared to the general population, yet dementia onset and frequency in this population are understudied. Intraindividual cognitive variability (IICV), a measure of variability in neuropsychological test performance within a person at a single timepoint, may be a novel, noninvasive biomarker of neurodegeneration and early dementia. OBJECTIVE To characterize the cross-sectional associations between IICV and hippocampal, total brain volume, and white matter disease measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among older American Indians. METHODS IICV measures for memory, executive function, and processing speed, and multidomain cognition were calculated for 746 American Indians (aged 64-95) who underwent MRI. Regression models were used to examine the associations of IICV score with hippocampal volume, total brain volume, and graded white matter disease, adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index, intracranial volume, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, alcohol use, and smoking. RESULTS Higher memory IICV measure was associated with lower hippocampal volume (Beta = -0.076; 95% CI -0.499, -0.023; p = 0.031). After adjustment for Bonferroni or IICV mean scores in the same tests, the associations were no longer significant. No IICV measures were associated with white matter disease or total brain volume. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the IICV measures used in this research cannot be robustly associated with cross-sectional neuroimaging features; nonetheless, the results encourage future studies investigating the associations between IICV and other brain regions, as well as its utility in the prediction of neurodegeneration and dementia in American Indians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Mascarenhas Fonseca
- Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
- Programa Terceira Idade (PROTER, Old Age Research Group), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Naomi Sage Chaytor
- Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
| | - Yunusa Olufadi
- Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
| | - Dedra Buchwald
- Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, United States
| | - James E. Galvin
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, United States
| | | | - Astrid Suchy-Dicey
- Elson S Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, United States
- Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health, Washington State University, United States
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Lissaman R, Lancaster TM, Parker GD, Graham KS, Lawrence AD, Hodgetts CJ. Tract-specific differences in white matter microstructure between young adult APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers: A replication and extension study. NEUROIMAGE. REPORTS 2022; 2:None. [PMID: 36507069 PMCID: PMC9726682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2022.100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The parahippocampal cingulum bundle (PHCB) interconnects regions known to be vulnerable to early Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, including posteromedial cortex and medial temporal lobe. While AD-related pathology has been robustly associated with alterations in PHCB microstructure, specifically lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD), emerging evidence indicates that the reverse pattern is evident in younger adults at increased risk of AD. In one such study, Hodgetts et al. (2019) reported that healthy young adult carriers of the apolipoprotein-E (APOE) ε4 allele - the strongest common genetic risk factor for AD - showed higher FA and lower MD in the PHCB but not the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). These results are consistent with proposals claiming that heightened neural activity and intrinsic connectivity play a significant role in increasing posteromedial cortex vulnerability to amyloid-β and tau spread beyond the medial temporal lobe. Given the implications for understanding AD risk, here we sought to replicate Hodgetts et al.'s finding in a larger sample (N = 128; 40 APOE ε4 carriers, 88 APOE ε4 non-carriers) of young adults (age range = 19-33). Extending this work, we also conducted an exploratory analysis using a more advanced measure of white matter microstructure: hindrance modulated orientational anisotropy (HMOA). Contrary to the original study, we did not observe higher FA or lower MD in the PHCB of APOE ε4 carriers relative to non-carriers. Bayes factors (BFs) further revealed moderate-to-strong evidence in support of these null findings. In addition, we observed no APOE ε4-related differences in PHCB HMOA. Our findings indicate that young adult APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers do not differ in PHCB microstructure, casting some doubt on the notion that early-life variation in PHCB tract microstructure might enhance vulnerability to amyloid-β accumulation and/or tau spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikki Lissaman
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thomas M. Lancaster
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, England, United Kingdom
| | - Greg D. Parker
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Kim S. Graham
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Lawrence
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Carl J. Hodgetts
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, England, United Kingdom
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Ponomareva NV, Andreeva TV, Protasova M, Konovalov RN, Krotenkova MV, Kolesnikova EP, Malina DD, Kanavets EV, Mitrofanov AA, Fokin VF, Illarioshkin SN, Rogaev EI. Genetic association of apolipoprotein E genotype with EEG alpha rhythm slowing and functional brain network alterations during normal aging. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:931173. [PMID: 35979332 PMCID: PMC9376365 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.931173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE4+) genotype is a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the mechanisms underlying its influence remain incompletely understood. The study aimed to investigate the possible effect of the APOE genotype on spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha characteristics, resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) connectivity (rsFC) in large brain networks and the interrelation of alpha rhythm and rsFC characteristics in non-demented adults during aging. We examined the EEG alpha subband’s relative power, individual alpha peak frequency (IAPF), and fMRI rsFC in non-demented volunteers (age range 26–79 years) stratified by the APOE genotype. The presence of the APOE4+ genotype was associated with lower IAPF and lower relative power of the 11–13 Hz alpha subbands. The age related decrease in EEG IAPF was more pronounced in the APOE4+ carriers than in the APOE4+ non-carriers (APOE4-). The APOE4+ carriers had a stronger fMRI positive rsFC of the interhemispheric regions of the frontoparietal, lateral visual and salience networks than the APOE4– individuals. In contrast, the negative rsFC in the network between the left hippocampus and the right posterior parietal cortex was reduced in the APOE4+ carriers compared to the non-carriers. Alpha rhythm slowing was associated with the dysfunction of hippocampal networks. Our results show that in adults without dementia APOE4+ genotype is associated with alpha rhythm slowing and that this slowing is age-dependent. Our data suggest predominant alterations of inhibitory processes in large-scale brain network of non-demented APOE4+ carriers. Moreover, dysfunction of large-scale hippocampal network can influence APOE-related alpha rhythm vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya V. Ponomareva
- Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Genetics and Life Science, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- *Correspondence: Natalya V. Ponomareva,
| | - Tatiana V. Andreeva
- Center for Genetics and Life Science, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Protasova
- Center for Genetics and Life Science, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Evgeny I. Rogaev
- Center for Genetics and Life Science, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia
- Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute (BNRI), University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Evgeny I. Rogaev,
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McCorkindale AN, Mundell HD, Guennewig B, Sutherland GT. Vascular Dysfunction Is Central to Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis in APOE e4 Carriers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7106. [PMID: 35806110 PMCID: PMC9266739 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the leading risk factor, after age, is possession of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele (APOE4). Approximately 50% of AD patients carry one or two copies of APOE4 but the mechanisms by which it confers risk are still unknown. APOE4 carriers are reported to demonstrate changes in brain structure, cognition, and neuropathology, but findings have been inconsistent across studies. In the present study, we used multi-modal data to characterise the effects of APOE4 on the brain, to investigate whether AD pathology manifests differently in APOE4 carriers, and to determine if AD pathomechanisms are different between carriers and non-carriers. Brain structural differences in APOE4 carriers were characterised by applying machine learning to over 2000 brain MRI measurements from 33,384 non-demented UK biobank study participants. APOE4 carriers showed brain changes consistent with vascular dysfunction, such as reduced white matter integrity in posterior brain regions. The relationship between APOE4 and AD pathology was explored among the 1260 individuals from the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP). APOE4 status had a greater effect on amyloid than tau load, particularly amyloid in the posterior cortical regions. APOE status was also highly correlated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Bulk tissue brain transcriptomic data from ROSMAP and a similar dataset from the Mount Sinai Brain Bank showed that differentially expressed genes between the dementia and non-dementia groups were enriched for vascular-related processes (e.g., "angiogenesis") in APOE4 carriers only. Immune-related transcripts were more strongly correlated with AD pathology in APOE4 carriers with some transcripts such as TREM2 and positively correlated with pathology severity in APOE4 carriers, but negatively in non-carriers. Overall, cumulative evidence from the largest neuroimaging, pathology, and transcriptomic studies available suggests that vascular dysfunction is key to the development of AD in APOE4 carriers. However, further studies are required to tease out non-APOE4-specific mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N. McCorkindale
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (A.N.M.); (H.D.M.)
| | - Hamish D. Mundell
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (A.N.M.); (H.D.M.)
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Boris Guennewig
- Brain and Mind Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Greg T. Sutherland
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (A.N.M.); (H.D.M.)
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Scan Once, Analyse Many: Using Large Open-Access Neuroimaging Datasets to Understand the Brain. Neuroinformatics 2022; 20:109-137. [PMID: 33974213 PMCID: PMC8111663 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-021-09519-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We are now in a time of readily available brain imaging data. Not only are researchers now sharing data more than ever before, but additionally large-scale data collecting initiatives are underway with the vision that many future researchers will use the data for secondary analyses. Here I provide an overview of available datasets and some example use cases. Example use cases include examining individual differences, more robust findings, reproducibility-both in public input data and availability as a replication sample, and methods development. I further discuss a variety of considerations associated with using existing data and the opportunities associated with large datasets. Suggestions for further readings on general neuroimaging and topic-specific discussions are also provided.
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Perioperative neurocognitive and functional neuroimaging trajectories in older APOE4 carriers compared with non-carriers: secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study. Br J Anaesth 2021; 127:917-928. [PMID: 34535274 PMCID: PMC8693648 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive dysfunction after surgery is a major issue in older adults. Here, we determined the effect of APOE4 on perioperative neurocognitive function in older patients. METHODS We enrolled 140 English-speaking patients ≥60 yr old scheduled for noncardiac surgery under general anaesthesia in an observational cohort study, of whom 52 underwent neuroimaging. We measured cognition; Aβ, tau, p-tau levels in CSF; and resting-state intrinsic functional connectivity in six Alzheimer's disease-risk regions before and 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS There were no significant APOE4-related differences in cognition or CSF biomarkers, except APOE4 carriers had lower CSF Aβ levels than non-carriers (preoperative median CSF Aβ [median absolute deviation], APOE4 305 pg ml-1 [65] vs 378 pg ml-1 [38], respectively; P=0.001). Controlling for age, APOE4 carriers had significantly greater preoperative functional connectivity than non-carriers between several brain regions implicated in Alzheimer's disease, including between the left posterior cingulate cortex and left angular gyrus (β [95% confidence interval, CI], 0.218 [0.137-0.230]; PFWE=0.016). APOE4 carriers, but not non-carriers, experienced significant connectivity decreases from before to 6 weeks after surgery between several brain regions including between the left posterior cingulate cortex and left angular gyrus (β [95% CI], -0.196 [-0.256 to -0.136]; PFWE=0.001). Most preoperative and postoperative functional connectivity differences did not change after controlling for preoperative CSF Aβ levels. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative change trajectories for cognition and CSF Aβ, tau or p-tau levels did not differ between community dwelling older APOE4 carriers and non-carriers. APOE4 carriers showed greater preoperative functional connectivity and greater postoperative decreases in functional connectivity in key Alzheimer's disease-risk regions, which occur via Aβ-independent mechanisms.
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Clift J, Cooke A, Isles AR, Dalley JW, Henson RN. Lifting the lid on impact and peer review. Brain Neurosci Adv 2021; 5:23982128211006574. [PMID: 33954260 PMCID: PMC8044561 DOI: 10.1177/23982128211006574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain and Neuroscience Advances has grown in tandem with the British Neuroscience Association’s campaign to build Credibility in Neuroscience, which encourages actions and initiatives aimed at improving reproducibility, reliability and openness. This commitment to credibility impacts not only what the Journal publishes, but also how it operates. With that in mind, the Editorial Board sought the views of the neuroscience community on the peer review process, and on how they should respond to the Journal Impact Factor that will be assigned to Brain and Neuroscience Advances. In this editorial, we present the results of a survey of neuroscience researchers conducted in the autumn of 2020 and discuss the broader implications of our findings for the Journal and the neuroscience community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne Cooke
- British Neuroscience Association, Bristol, UK
| | - Anthony R Isles
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jeffrey W Dalley
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard N Henson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Gellersen HM, Coughlan G, Hornberger M, Simons JS. Memory precision of object-location binding is unimpaired in APOE ε4-carriers with spatial navigation deficits. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab087. [PMID: 33987536 PMCID: PMC8108563 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Research suggests that tests of memory fidelity, feature binding and spatial navigation are promising for early detection of subtle behavioural changes related to Alzheimer's disease. In the absence of longitudinal data, one way of testing the early detection potential of cognitive tasks is through the comparison of individuals at different genetic risk for Alzheimer's dementia. Most studies have done so using samples aged 70 years or older. Here, we tested whether memory fidelity of long-term object-location binding may be a sensitive marker even among cognitively healthy individuals in their mid-60s by comparing participants at low and higher risk based on presence of the ε4-allele of the apolipoprotein gene (n = 26 ε3ε3, n = 20 ε3ε4 carriers). We used a continuous report paradigm in a visual memory task that required participants to recreate the spatial position of objects in a scene. We employed mixture modelling to estimate the two distinct memory processes that underpin the trial-by-trial variation in localization errors: retrieval success which indexes the proportion of trials where participants recalled any information about an object's position and the precision with which participants retrieved this information. Prior work has shown that these memory paradigms that separate retrieval success from precision are capable of detecting subtle differences in mnemonic fidelity even when retrieval success could not. Nonetheless, Bayesian analyses found good evidence that ε3ε4 carriers did not remember fewer object locations [F(1, 42) = 0.450, P = 0.506, BF01 = 3.02], nor was their precision for the spatial position of objects reduced compared to ε3ε3 carriers [F(1, 42) = 0.12, P = 0.726, BF01 = 3.19]. Because the participants in the sample presented here were a subset of a study on apolipoprotein ε4-carrier status and spatial navigation in the Sea Hero Quest game [Coughlan et al., 2019. PNAS, 116(9)], we obtained these data to contrast genetic effects on the two tasks within the same sample (n = 33). Despite the smaller sample size, wayfinding deficits among ε3ε4 carriers could be replicated [F(1, 33) = 5.60, P = 0.024, BF10 = 3.44]. Object-location memory metrics and spatial navigation scores were not correlated (all r < 0.25, P > 0.1, 0 < BF10 < 3). These findings show spared object-location binding in the presence of a detrimental apolipoprotein ε4 effect on spatial navigation. This suggests that the sensitivity of memory fidelity and binding tasks may not extend to individuals with one ε4-allele in their early to mid-60s. The results provide further support to prior proposals that spatial navigation may be a sensitive marker for the earliest cognitive changes in Alzheimer's disease, even before episodic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena M Gellersen
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - Gillian Coughlan
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Hospital, Toronto, ON M6A 1W1, Canada
| | | | - Jon S Simons
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
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