Patterns of cortical thickness according to APOE genotype in Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Possession of one or more apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 alleles may influence the distribution of atrophy and clinical phenotype. We aimed to assess the influence of APOE genotype on cortical thickness and regional brain volumes in AD (Alzheimer's disease).


METHODS
We included 38 patients (9 epsilon4 non-carriers, 23 epsilon4 heterozygotes, 6 epsilon4 homozygotes) and 23 controls. Each subject had 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and a neuropsychological battery. Cortical thickness and isthmus cingulate volume were measured using FreeSurfer; the volumes of the hippocampus, whole brain, and lateral ventricles were calculated using manual and semi-automated volumetry.


RESULTS
Compared with controls, cortical thickness was significantly lower: in the bilateral temporal, posterior parietal and occipital regions in non-carriers, in the medial temporal and left parietal regions in heterozygotes, and in the medial temporal lobe in homozygotes. Comparisons between AD subgroups did not show significant differences. A trend for larger brain and isthmus cingulate volumes and smaller hippocampal and ventricular volumes with increasing epsilon4 dose were seen. These differences were supported by neuropsychological profiles.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that APOE genotype may influence the topography of regional atrophy and cortical thinning in AD.
Gutiérrez-Galve
Leticia
L
Dementia Research Centre, Institute of Neurology, University College London (UCL), London WC1N 3BG, UK.
Lehmann
Manja
M
Hobbs
Nicola Z
NZ
Clarkson
Matthew J
MJ
Ridgway
Gerard R
GR
Crutch
Sebastian
S
Ourselin
Sebastien
S
Schott
Jonathan M
JM
Fox
Nick C
NC
Barnes
Josephine
J
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D001284:Atrophy; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000473:pathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4