Apolipoprotein E homozygous ε4 allele status: A deteriorating effect on visuospatial working memory and global brain structure

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Janik Goltermann - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Ronny Redlich - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Katharina Dohm - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Dario Zaremba - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Jonathan Repple - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Claas Kaehler - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Dominik Grotegerd - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Katharina Förster - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Susanne Meinert - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Verena Enneking - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Emily Schlaghecken - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Lara Fleischer - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Tim Hahn - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Harald Kugel - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Autor:in)
  • Andreas Jansen - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Axel Krug - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Katharina Brosch - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Igor Nenadic - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Simon Schmitt - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Frederike Stein - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Tina Meller - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Dilara Yüksel - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Elena Fischer - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Marcella Rietschel - , Universität Heidelberg (Autor:in)
  • Stephanie H. Witt - , Universität Heidelberg (Autor:in)
  • Andreas J. Forstner - , Universität Bonn, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Universität Basel (Autor:in)
  • Markus M. Nöthen - , Universität Bonn (Autor:in)
  • Tilo Kircher - , Philipps-Universität Marburg (Autor:in)
  • Anbupalam Thalamuthu - , University of New South Wales (Autor:in)
  • Bernhard T. Baune - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, University of Melbourne (Autor:in)
  • Udo Dannlowski - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Gemeinsame:r Letztautor:in)
  • Nils Opel - , Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Gemeinsame:r Letztautor:in)

Abstract

Theoretical background: The Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype is known to be one of the strongest single-gene predictors for Alzheimer disease, which is characterized by widespread brain structural degeneration progressing along with cognitive impairment. The ε4 allele status has been associated with brain structural alterations and lower cognitive ability in non-demented subjects. However, it remains unclear to what extent the visuospatial cognitive domain is affected, from what age onward changes are detectable and if alterations may interact with cognitive deficits in major depressive disorder (MDD). The current work investigated the effect of APOE ε4 homozygosity on visuospatial working memory (vWM) capacity, and on hippocampal morphometry. Furthermore, potential moderating roles of age and MDD were assessed. Methods: A sample of n = 31 homozygous ε4 carriers was contrasted with n = 31 non-ε4 carriers in a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of non-demented, young to mid-age participants (mean age = 34.47; SD = 13.48; 51.6% female). Among them were n = 12 homozygous ε4 carriers and n = 12 non-ε4 carriers suffering from MDD (39%). VWM was assessed using the Corsi block-tapping task. Region of interest analyses of hippocampal gray matter density and volume were conducted using voxel-based morphometry (CAT12), and Freesurfer, respectively. Results: Homozygous ε4 carriers showed significantly lower Corsi span capacity than non-ε4 carriers did, and Corsi span capacity was associated with higher gray matter density of the hippocampus. APOE group differences in hippocampal volume could be detected but were no longer present when controlling for total intracranial volume. Hippocampal gray matter density did not differ between APOE groups. We did not find any interaction effects of age and MDD diagnosis on hippocampal morphometry. Conclusion: Our results point toward a negative association of homozygous ε4 allele status with vWM capacity already during mid-adulthood, which emerges independently of MDD diagnosis and age. APOE genotype seems to be associated with global brain structural rather than hippocampus specific alterations in young- to mid-age participants.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer552
Seitenumfang11
FachzeitschriftFrontiers in neurology
Jahrgang10
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 27 Mai 2019
Peer-Review-StatusJa
Extern publiziertJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 31191441
PubMedCentral PMC6545528

Schlagworte

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Schlagwörter

  • Alzheimer, Apolipoprotein E, Cognitive deficits, Hippocampus, Major depression, Structural MRI, Visuospatial working memory

Bibliotheksschlagworte