The APOE ε 4 allele in relation to brain white‐matter microstructure in adulthood and aging
Abstract
The Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 allele is a major genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease and has been associated with structural and functional brain alterations across the adult life span. Recent studies have presented evidence that ε4 affects microstructural properties of brain white matter (WM) in non‐demented carriers of the ε4 allele, but conflicting evidence has been presented as well. The main purpose of the present study was therefore to examine ApoE effects on WM in a large sample of middle‐aged and older adults (N = 273). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was acquired, and tract‐based as well as voxel‐wise analyses were conducted. The tract‐based analyses revealed no significant ApoE effects, and no significant interactions between genotype and age were observed. Taken together, the findings of the present study suggest that ApoE effects on white‐matter microstructure are less abundant than has been suggested in some previous studies.
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Some prior diffusion MRI studies observed null or inconsistent effects of APOE4 on white matter microstructure in cognitively normal older adults.
“whereas others observed null [6, 7] or inconsistent [8] effects.”
From Effects of APOE2 and APOE4 on brain microstructure in older adults: modification by age, sex, and cognitive status (2024) · cites this paper as [6]
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- Authors
- Nyberg, L., & Salami, A.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Nyberg, Lars
- Venue
- Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-02-08
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 263-267
- ISSN
- 0036-5564 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9450
- OpenAlex
- W2117987929
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 3.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Scandinavian Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Keywords
- apolipoprotein E ε4 allele, white matter microstructure, Alzheimer's disease risk, aging, middle-aged and older adults, diffusion tensor imaging, tract-based spatial statistics, voxel-based analysis
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alleles, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Apolipoprotein E4, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, White Matter
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