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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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2
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Puramat P, Dimick MK, Kennedy KG, Zai CC, Kennedy JL, MacIntosh BJ, Goldstein BI. Neurostructural and neurocognitive correlates of APOE ε4 in youth bipolar disorder. J Psychopharmacol 2023; 37:408-419. [PMID: 36919310 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221147151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is a clinical risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4), a genetic risk factor for AD, has been associated with brain structure and neurocognition in healthy youth. AIMS We evaluated whether there was an association between APOE ε4 with neurostructure and neurocognition in youth with BD. METHODS Participants included 150 youth (78 BD:19 ε4-carriers, 72 controls:17 ε4-carriers). 3T-magnetic resonance imaging yielded measures of cortical thickness, surface area, and volume. Regions-of-interest (ROI) and vertex-wise analyses of the cortex were conducted. Neurocognitive tests of attention and working memory were examined. RESULTS Vertex-wise analyses revealed clusters with a diagnosis-by-APOE ε4 interaction effect for surface area (p = 0.002) and volume (p = 0.046) in pars triangularis (BD ε4-carriers > BD noncarriers), and surface area (p = 0.03) in superior frontal gyrus (controls ε4-carriers > other groups). ROI analyses were not significant. A significant interaction effect for working memory (p = 0.001) appeared to be driven by nominally poorer performance in BD ε4-carriers but not control ε4-carriers; however, post hoc contrasts were not significant. CONCLUSIONS APOE ε4 was associated with larger neurostructural metrics in BD and controls, however, the regional association of APOE ε4 with neurostructure differed between groups. The role of APOE ε4 on neurodevelopmental processes is a plausible explanation for the observed differences. Future studies should evaluate the association of APOE ε4 with pars triangularis and its neurofunctional implications among youth with BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parnian Puramat
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mikaela K Dimick
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kody G Kennedy
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Clement C Zai
- Neurogenetics Section and Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Neurogenetics Section and Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bradley J MacIntosh
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin I Goldstein
- Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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3
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Srisaikaew P, Chad JA, Mahakkanukrauh P, Anderson ND, Chen JJ. Effect of sex on the APOE4-aging interaction in the white matter microstructure of cognitively normal older adults using diffusion-tensor MRI with orthogonal-tensor decomposition (DT-DOME). Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1049609. [PMID: 36908785 PMCID: PMC9992882 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1049609] [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: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The influence of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE4) on brain microstructure of cognitively normal older adults remains incompletely understood, in part due to heterogeneity within study populations. In this study, we examined white-matter microstructural integrity in cognitively normal older adults as a function of APOE4 carrier status using conventional diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) and the novel orthogonal-tensor decomposition (DT-DOME), accounting for the effects of age and sex. Age associations with white-matter microstructure did not significantly depend on APOE4 status, but did differ between sexes, emphasizing the importance of accounting for sex differences in APOE research. Moreover, we found the DT-DOME to be more sensitive than conventional DTI metrics to such age-related and sex effects, especially in crossing WM fiber regions, and suggest their use in further investigation of white matter microstructure across the life span in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patcharaporn Srisaikaew
- Ph.D. Program in Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Jordan A. Chad
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Excellence in Osteology Research and Training Center, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nicole D. Anderson
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J. Jean Chen
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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4
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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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5
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Mole JP, Fasano F, Evans J, Sims R, Kidd E, Aggleton JP, Metzler-Baddeley C. APOE-ε4-related differences in left thalamic microstructure in cognitively healthy adults. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19787. [PMID: 33188215 PMCID: PMC7666117 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75992-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
APOE-ε4 is a main genetic risk factor for developing late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and is thought to interact adversely with other risk factors on the brain. However, evidence regarding the impact of APOE-ε4 on grey matter structure in asymptomatic individuals remains mixed. Much attention has been devoted to characterising APOE-ε4-related changes in the hippocampus, but LOAD pathology is known to spread through the whole of the Papez circuit including the limbic thalamus. Here, we tested the impact of APOE-ε4 and two other risk factors, a family history of dementia and obesity, on grey matter macro- and microstructure across the whole brain in 165 asymptomatic individuals (38-71 years). Microstructural properties of apparent neurite density and dispersion, free water, myelin and cell metabolism were assessed with Neurite Orientation Density and Dispersion (NODDI) and quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging. APOE-ε4 carriers relative to non-carriers had a lower macromolecular proton fraction (MPF) in the left thalamus. No risk effects were present for cortical thickness, subcortical volume, or NODDI indices. Reduced thalamic MPF may reflect inflammation-related tissue swelling and/or myelin loss in APOE-ε4. Future prospective studies should investigate the sensitivity and specificity of qMT-based MPF as a non-invasive biomarker for LOAD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilu P Mole
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Fabrizio Fasano
- Siemens Healthcare, Henkestrasse 127, 91052, Erlangen, Germany
| | - John Evans
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Rebecca Sims
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Haydn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Emma Kidd
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue,, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - John P Aggleton
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Claudia Metzler-Baddeley
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
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6
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Mascarell Maričić L, Walter H, Rosenthal A, Ripke S, Quinlan EB, Banaschewski T, Barker GJ, Bokde ALW, Bromberg U, Büchel C, Desrivières S, Flor H, Frouin V, Garavan H, Itterman B, Martinot JL, Martinot MLP, Nees F, Orfanos DP, Paus T, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Smolka MN, Fröhner JH, Whelan R, Kaminski J, Schumann G, Heinz A. The IMAGEN study: a decade of imaging genetics in adolescents. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2648-2671. [PMID: 32601453 PMCID: PMC7577859 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0822-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Imaging genetics offers the possibility of detecting associations between genotype and brain structure as well as function, with effect sizes potentially exceeding correlations between genotype and behavior. However, study results are often limited due to small sample sizes and methodological differences, thus reducing the reliability of findings. The IMAGEN cohort with 2000 young adolescents assessed from the age of 14 onwards tries to eliminate some of these limitations by offering a longitudinal approach and sufficient sample size for analyzing gene-environment interactions on brain structure and function. Here, we give a systematic review of IMAGEN publications since the start of the consortium. We then focus on the specific phenotype 'drug use' to illustrate the potential of the IMAGEN approach. We describe findings with respect to frontocortical, limbic and striatal brain volume, functional activation elicited by reward anticipation, behavioral inhibition, and affective faces, and their respective associations with drug intake. In addition to describing its strengths, we also discuss limitations of the IMAGEN study. Because of the longitudinal design and related attrition, analyses are underpowered for (epi-) genome-wide approaches due to the limited sample size. Estimating the generalizability of results requires replications in independent samples. However, such densely phenotyped longitudinal studies are still rare and alternative internal cross-validation methods (e.g., leave-one out, split-half) are also warranted. In conclusion, the IMAGEN cohort is a unique, very well characterized longitudinal sample, which helped to elucidate neurobiological mechanisms involved in complex behavior and offers the possibility to further disentangle genotype × phenotype interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Mascarell Maričić
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Henrik Walter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annika Rosenthal
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Ripke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erin Burke Quinlan
- Department of Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gareth J Barker
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Arun L W Bokde
- Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Uli Bromberg
- University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, House W34, 3.OG, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Sylvane Desrivières
- Department of Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Herta Flor
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, 68131, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Vincent Frouin
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hugh Garavan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Bernd Itterman
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Abbestr. 2-12, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Luc Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM Unit 1000 "Neuroimaging& Psychiatry", University Paris Sud, University Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, and Maison de Solenn, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Laure Paillère Martinot
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM Unit 1000 "Neuroimaging & Psychiatry", University Paris Sud, University Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Université, and AP-HP, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Tomáš Paus
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest and Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M6A 2E1, Canada
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Göttingen, von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Hohmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Square J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael N Smolka
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, TechnischeUniversität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Juliane H Fröhner
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroimaging Center, TechnischeUniversität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robert Whelan
- School of Psychology and Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jakob Kaminski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Department of Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
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Mole JP, Fasano F, Evans J, Sims R, Hamilton DA, Kidd E, Metzler-Baddeley C. Genetic risk of dementia modifies obesity effects on white matter myelin in cognitively healthy adults. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 94:298-310. [PMID: 32736120 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
APOE-ε4 is a major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease that interacts with other risk factors, but the nature of such combined effects remains poorly understood. We quantified the impact of APOE-ε4, family history (FH) of dementia, and obesity on white matter (WM) microstructure in 165 asymptomatic adults (38-71 years old) using quantitative magnetization transfer and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging. Microstructural properties of the fornix, parahippocampal cingulum, and uncinate fasciculus were compared with those in motor and whole-brain WM regions. Widespread interaction effects between APOE, FH, and waist-hip ratio were found in the myelin-sensitive macromolecular proton fraction from quantitative magnetization transfer. Among individuals with the highest genetic risk (FH+ and APOE-ε4), obesity was associated with reduced macromolecular proton fraction in the right parahippocampal cingulum, whereas no effects were present for those without FH. Risk effects on apparent myelin were moderated by hypertension and inflammation-related markers. These findings suggest that genetic risk modifies the impact of obesity on WM myelin consistent with neuroglia models of aging and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilu P Mole
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - John Evans
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Rebecca Sims
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Derek A Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Emma Kidd
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Claudia Metzler-Baddeley
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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8
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Harrison JR, Bhatia S, Tan ZX, Mirza-Davies A, Benkert H, Tax CMW, Jones DK. Imaging Alzheimer's genetic risk using diffusion MRI: A systematic review. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 27:102359. [PMID: 32758801 PMCID: PMC7399253 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is an imaging technique which probes the random motion of water molecules in tissues and has been widely applied to investigate changes in white matter microstructure in Alzheimer's Disease. This paper aims to systematically review studies that examined the effect of Alzheimer's risk genes on white matter microstructure. We assimilated findings from 37 studies and reviewed their diffusion pre-processing and analysis methods. Most studies estimate the diffusion tensor (DT) and compare derived quantitative measures such as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity between groups. Those with increased AD genetic risk are associated with reduced anisotropy and increased diffusivity across the brain, most notably the temporal and frontal lobes, cingulum and corpus callosum. Structural abnormalities are most evident amongst those with established Alzheimer's Disease. Recent studies employ signal representations and analysis frameworks beyond DT MRI but show that dMRI overall lacks specificity to disease pathology. However, as the field advances, these techniques may prove useful in pre-symptomatic diagnosis or staging of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith R Harrison
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Sanchita Bhatia
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Zhao Xuan Tan
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Anastasia Mirza-Davies
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Hannah Benkert
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Chantal M W Tax
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Derek K Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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9
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Vinueza-Veloz MF, Martín-Román C, Robalino-Valdivieso MP, White T, Kushner SA, De Zeeuw CI. Genetic risk for Alzheimer disease in children: Evidence from early-life IQ and brain white-matter microstructure. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 19:e12656. [PMID: 32383552 PMCID: PMC7507145 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
It remains unclear whether the genetic risk for late‐onset Alzheimer disease (AD) is linked to premorbid individual differences in general cognitive ability and brain structure. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the genetic risk of late‐onset AD is related to premorbid individual differences in intelligence quotient (IQ) and characteristics of the cerebral white‐matter in children. The study sample included children of the Generation R Study from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. IQ was measured using a well‐validated Dutch nonverbal IQ test (n = 1908) at ages 5 to 9 years. White‐matter microstructure was assessed by measuring fractional anisotropy (FA) of white‐matter tracts using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) (n = 919) at ages 9 to 12 years. Genetic risk was quantified using three biologically defined genetic risk scores (GRSs) hypothesized to be related to the pathophysiology of late‐onset AD: immune response, cholesterol/lipid metabolism and endocytosis. Higher genetic risk for late‐onset AD that included genes associated with immune responsivity had a negative influence on cognition and cerebral white‐matter microstructure. For each unit increase in the immune response GRS, IQ decreased by 0.259 SD (95% CI [−0.500, −0.017]). For each unit increase in the immune response GRS, global FA decreased by 0.373 SD (95% CI [−0.721, −0.026]). Neither cholesterol/lipid metabolism nor endocytosis GRSs were associated with IQ or cerebral white‐matter microstructure. Our findings suggest that elevated genetic risk for late‐onset AD may in part be manifest during childhood neurodevelopment through alterations in immune responsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Fernanda Vinueza-Veloz
- School of Medicine, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador.,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carlos Martín-Román
- Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tonya White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven A Kushner
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York City, United States of America, United States of America
| | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Metzler-Baddeley C, Mole JP, Sims R, Fasano F, Evans J, Jones DK, Aggleton JP, Baddeley RJ. Fornix white matter glia damage causes hippocampal gray matter damage during age-dependent limbic decline. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1060. [PMID: 30705365 PMCID: PMC6355929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37658-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging leads to gray and white matter decline but their causation remains unclear. We explored two classes of models of age and dementia risk related brain changes. The first class of models emphasises the importance of gray matter: age and risk-related processes cause neurodegeneration and this causes damage in associated white matter tracts. The second class of models reverses the direction of causation: aging and risk factors cause white matter damage and this leads to gray matter damage. We compared these models with linear mediation analysis and quantitative MRI indices (from diffusion, quantitative magnetization transfer and relaxometry imaging) of tissue properties in two limbic structures implicated in age-related memory decline: the hippocampus and the fornix in 166 asymptomatic individuals (aged 38–71 years). Aging was associated with apparent glia but not neurite density damage in the fornix and the hippocampus. Mediation analysis supported white matter damage causing gray matter decline; controlling for fornix glia damage, the correlations between age and hippocampal damage disappear, but not vice versa. Fornix and hippocampal differences were both associated with reductions in episodic memory performance. These results suggest that fornix white matter glia damage may cause hippocampal gray matter damage during age-dependent limbic decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Metzler-Baddeley
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Jilu P Mole
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Rebecca Sims
- Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Fabrizio Fasano
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.,Siemens Healthcare, Head Office, Sir William Siemens Square, Surrey, GU16 8QD, UK
| | - John Evans
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Derek K Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.,School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3065, Australia
| | - John P Aggleton
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Roland J Baddeley
- Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, 12a Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TU, UK
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11
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Weissberger GH, Nation DA, Nguyen CP, Bondi MW, Han SD. Meta-analysis of cognitive ability differences by apolipoprotein e genotype in young humans. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 94:49-58. [PMID: 30125600 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 allele has been proposed as an example of an antagonistic pleiotropy gene, conferring a beneficial effect on cognition in early life and a detrimental impact on cognition during later years. However, findings on the cognitive associations of the ε4 allele in younger persons are mixed. This PRISMA conforming study aimed to investigate APOE genotype (e4/non-e4) associations across seven cognitive domains (intelligence/achievement, attention/working memory, executive functioning, memory, language, processing speed and visuospatial abilities) in younger humans using a meta-analytic approach. Of 689 records reviewed, 29 studies (34 data-points) were selected for the quantitative synthesis. Participants' ages ranged from 2-40. Results showed that young ε4 carriers did not statistically differ from non-ε4 carriers across any cognitive domains. Overall, findings do not provide compelling support for an antagonistic pleiotropic effect of the ε4 allele across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gali H Weissberger
- Department of Family Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, 1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Unit 22, HSA Building A-6, 4thFloor, Room 6437A, Alhambra, CA, 91803, USA.
| | - Daniel A Nation
- Department of Psychology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, 90089, CA, USA
| | - Caroline P Nguyen
- Department of Family Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, 1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Unit 22, HSA Building A-6, 4thFloor, Room 6437A, Alhambra, CA, 91803, USA
| | - Mark W Bondi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive #9116-B, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - S Duke Han
- Department of Family Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, 1000 S. Fremont Avenue, Unit 22, HSA Building A-6, 4thFloor, Room 6437A, Alhambra, CA, 91803, USA; Department of Psychology, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, 90089, CA, USA; USC School of Gerontology, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA; Department of Neurology, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, 90033, CA, USA
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12
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Hu L, Xu Q, Li J, Wang F, Xu X, Sun Z, Ma X, Liu Y, Wang Q, Wang D. No differences in brain microstructure between young KIBRA-C carriers and non-carriers. Oncotarget 2018; 9:1200-1209. [PMID: 29416687 PMCID: PMC5787430 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
KIBRA rs17070145 polymorphism is associated with variations in memory function and the microstructure of related brain areas. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) as an extension of diffusion tensor imaging that can provide more information about changes in microstructure, based on the idea that water diffusion in biological tissues is heterogeneous due to structural hindrance and restriction. We used DKI to explore the relationship between KIBRA gene polymorphism and brain microstructure in young adults. We recruited 100 healthy young volunteers, including 53 TT carriers and 47 C allele carriers. No differences were detected between the TT homozygotes and C-allele carriers for any diffusion and kurtosis parameter. These results indicate KIBRA rs17070145 polymorphism likely has little or no effect on brain microstructure in young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Hu
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Qunxing Xu
- Medical Examination Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jizhen Li
- Mental Health Center of Shandong Province, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xinghua Xu
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Zhiyuan Sun
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xiangxing Ma
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Brainnetome Center, National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
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13
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Nao J, Sun H, Wang Q, Ma S, Zhang S, Dong X, Ma Y, Wang X, Zheng D. Adverse Effects of the Apolipoprotein E ε4 Allele on Episodic Memory, Task Switching and Gray Matter Volume in Healthy Young Adults. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:346. [PMID: 28706481 PMCID: PMC5489690 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have shown that healthy elderly subjects and patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who carry the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 allele have worse cognitive function and more severe brain atrophy than non-carriers. However, it remains unclear whether this ApoE polymorphism leads to changes of cognition and brain morphology in healthy young adults. In this study, we used an established model to measure verbal episodic memory and core executive function (EF) components (response inhibition, working memory and task switching) in 32 ApoE ε4 carriers and 40 non-carriers between 20 years and 40 years of age. To do this, we carried out an adapted auditory verbal learning test and three computerized EF tasks. High-resolution head magnetic resonance scans were performed in all participants and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used for image processing and analysis. Multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) performed on memory measures showed that the overall verbal episodic memory of ApoE ε4 carriers was significantly worse than non-carriers (Wilk’s λ = 4.884, P = 0.004). No significant differences were detected in overall EF between the two groups. Post hoc analyses revealed group differences in terms of immediate recall, recognition and task switching, which favored non-carriers. VBM analysis showed gray matter (GM) bilateral reductions in the medial and dorsolateral frontal, parietal and left temporal cortices in the carrier group relative to the non-carrier group, which were most significant in the bilateral anterior and middle cingulate gyri. However, these changes in GM volume were not directly associated with changes in cognitive function. Our data show that the ApoE ε4 allele is associated with poorer performance in verbal episodic memory and task switching, and a reduction in GM volume in healthy young adults, suggesting that the effects of ApoE ε4 upon cognition and brain morphology exist long before the possible occurrence of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfei Nao
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Hongzan Sun
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Qiushi Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Shuang Ma
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Dong
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Ying Ma
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
| | - Dongming Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang, China
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14
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Calderón-Garcidueñas L, de la Monte SM. Apolipoprotein E4, Gender, Body Mass Index, Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, and Air Pollution Interactions: Recipe for Alzheimer's Disease Development in Mexico City Young Females. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 58:613-630. [PMID: 28527212 PMCID: PMC9996388 DOI: 10.3233/jad-161299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Given the epidemiological trends of increasing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and growing evidence that exposure and lifestyle factors contribute to AD risk and pathogenesis, attention should be paid to variables such as air pollution, in order to reduce rates of cognitive decline and dementia. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) above the US EPA standards is associated with AD risk. Mexico City children experienced pre- and postnatal high exposures to PM2.5, O3, combustion-derived iron-rich nanoparticles, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and endotoxins. Exposures are associated with early brain gene imbalance in oxidative stress, inflammation, innate and adaptive immune responses, along with epigenetic changes, accumulation of misfolded proteins, cognitive deficits, and brain structural and metabolic changes. The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 allele, the most prevalent genetic risk for AD, plays a key role in the response to air pollution in young girls. APOE 4 heterozygous females with >75% to <94% BMI percentiles are at the highest risk of severe cognitive deficits (1.5-2 SD from average IQ). This review focused on the relationships between gender, BMI, systemic and neural inflammation, insulin resistance, hyperleptinemia, dyslipidemia, vascular risk factors, and central nervous system involvement in APOE4 urbanites exposed to PM2.5 and magnetite combustion-derived iron-rich nanoparticles that can reach the brain. APOE4 young female heterozygous carriers constitute a high-risk group for a fatal disease: AD. Multidisciplinary intervention strategies could be critical for prevention or amelioration of cognitive deficits and long-term AD progression in young individuals at high risk.
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