Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Chiang G, Insel P, Tosun D, Schuff N, Truran-Sacrey D, Raptentsetsang S, Thompson P, Reiman E, Jack C, Fox N, Jagust W, Harvey D, Beckett L, Gamst A, Aisen P, Petersen R, Weiner M
Journal Alzheimers Dement
Volume 7
Issue 5
Pagination 514-20
Date Published 09/01/2011
ISSN 1552-5279
Keywords Amyloid beta-Peptides, Apolipoprotein E4, Cognitive Dysfunction, Hippocampus
Abstract BACKGROUND: The majority of studies relating amyloid pathology with brain volumes have been cross-sectional. Apolipoprotein ɛ4 (APOE ɛ4), a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, is also known to be associated with hippocampal volume loss. No studies have considered the effects of amyloid pathology and APOE ɛ4 together on longitudinal volume loss. METHODS: We evaluated whether an abnormal level of cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid (CSF Aβ) and APOE ɛ4 carrier status were independently associated with greater hippocampal volume loss over 1 year. We then assessed whether APOE ɛ4 status and CSF Aβ acted synergistically, testing the significance of an interaction term in the regression analysis. We included 297 participants: 77 cognitively normal, 144 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 76 with Alzheimer's disease. RESULTS: An abnormal CSF Aβ level was found to be associated with greater hippocampal volume loss over 1 year in each group. APOE ɛ4 was associated with hippocampal volume loss only in the cognitively normal and MCI groups. APOE ɛ4 carriers with abnormal CSF Aβ in the MCI group acted synergistically to produce disproportionately greater volume loss than noncarriers. CONCLUSION: Baseline CSF Aβ predicts progression of hippocampal volume loss. APOE ɛ4 carrier status amplifies the degree of neurodegeneration in MCI. Understanding the effect of interactions between genetic risk and amyloid pathology will be important in clinical trials and our understanding of the disease process.
DOI 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.12.010
PubMed ID 21889115
PubMed Central ID PMC3177162
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