title: Effect of ApoE epsilon4 allele on visual evoked potentials and resultant flow coupling in patients with Alzheimer.
abstract: The apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (ApoE epsilon4) allele is a strong susceptibility factor for Alzheimer disease, which promotes neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular dysfunction. To address this issue in more detail, we simultaneously obtained visual evoked potentials and resultant hemodynamic responses in newly diagnosed Alzheimer patients without signs of vascular lesions on a cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Patients were grouped according to ApoE genotype (n = 19 ApoE epsilon4 carrier and n = 12 noncarrier). ApoE epsilon4 carrier had significantly longer peak latencies and a trend to higher interpeak latencies of late potential components. Potential amplitudes and hemodynamic responses were similar in both groups. At the incidental stage of disease process, it appears that the ApoE epsilon4 allele mainly promotes neuronal dysfunction rather than aggravates neurovascular dysfunction. Studies with larger patient samples are warranted to corroborate the first findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany. bernhard.rosengarten@neuro.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosengarten
authors.forename: Sönke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaps
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4