Repository logo
 

Longitudinal association between hippocampus atrophy and episodic-memory decline in non-demented APOE ε4 carriers.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Gorbach, Tetiana 
Pudas, Sara 
Bartrés-Faz, David 
Brandmaier, Andreas M 
Düzel, Sandra 

Abstract

Introduction: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is the main genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), accelerated cognitive aging, and hippocampal atrophy, but its influence on the association between hippocampus atrophy and episodic-memory decline in non-demented individuals remains unclear. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal (two to six observations) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived hippocampal volumes and episodic memory from 748 individuals (55 to 90 years at baseline, 50% female) from the European Lifebrain consortium. Results: The change-change association for hippocampal volume and memory was significant only in ε4 carriers (N = 173, r = 0.21, P = .007; non-carriers: N = 467, r = 0.073, P = .117). The linear relationship was significantly steeper for the carriers [t(629) = 2.4, P = .013]. A similar trend toward a stronger change-change relation for carriers was seen in a subsample with more than two assessments. Discussion: These findings provide evidence for a difference in hippocampus-memory association between ε4 carriers and non-carriers, thus highlighting how genetic factors modulate the translation of the AD-related pathophysiological cascade into cognitive deficits.

Description

Keywords

MRI, apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4, hippocampus, longitudinal, memory

Journal Title

Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring (DADM)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2352-8729
2352-8729

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Alzheimer’s Association
Sponsorship
European Commission (732592)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/H008217/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00005/8)