Effect of APOE Genotype on Amyloid Deposition, Brain Volume, and Memory in Cognitively Normal Older Individuals

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lim, Yen Ying^{a; *} | Williamson, Robert^a | Laws, Simon M.^{b; c; d} | Villemagne, Victor L.^{a; f; g} | Bourgeat, Pierrick^e | Fowler, Christopher^a | Rainey-Smith, Stephanie^b | Salvado, Olivier^e | Martins, Ralph N.^b | Rowe, Christopher C.^{f; g} | Masters, Colin L.^a | Maruff, Paul^{a; h} | for the AIBL Research Group

Affiliations: [a] The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia | [b] Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia | [c] Co-operative Research Centre for Mental Health, http://www.mentalhealthcrc.com | [d] School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia | [e] CSIRO Preventative Health National Research Flagship, Australian e-Health Research Centre-BiaMedIA, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | [f] Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia | [g] Department of Medicine, Austin Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia | [h] Cogstate Ltd., Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Yen Ying Lim, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 155 Oak Street, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9389 2909; Fax: +61 3 9387 5061; E-mail: yen.lim@florey.edu.au.

Abstract: Background: The association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele and high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia before the age of 80 has been recognized for over 30 years. However, the timing and mode of action of APOE is not understood, nor has there been a detailed analysis of the effect of APOE genotype on memory, hippocampal volume, and amyloid-β (Aβ) levels in cognitively normal adults. Objective: Examine the effect of APOE allelic genotype on the relationship between Aβ levels, hippocampal volume, and memory in cognitively normal adults. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 989 cognitively normal older adults enrolled in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study, all of whom underwent APOE genotyping and memory assessment. A subset of this group underwent PET neuroimaging for Aβ (n = 585) and MRI for hippocampal volume (n = 303). Results: APOE ɛ4 homozygotes (ɛ4/ɛ4) showed significantly worse episodic memory and higher Aβ levels than ɛ4 heterozygotes. The relationship between increasing Aβ levels and worse episodic memory was significant for ɛ3 homozygotes (ɛ3/ɛ3), ɛ4 heterozygotes, and strongest for ɛ4 homozygotes. There were no differences in hippocampal volume between APOE groups; the relationship between smaller hippocampal volume and worse episodic memory was significant only for ɛ4 homozygotes. Conclusion: APOE acts in a co-dominant fashion on Aβ levels, episodic memory, and hippocampal volume in cognitively normal older adults. APOE ɛ4 is central to the events that lead to AD in cognitively normal older adults, likely through a quantitative role in the disruption of Aβ clearance.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid, apolipoprotein E, hippocampal volume, memory, mild cognitive impairment

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170072

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 1293-1302, 2017