title: Age-Related Effects of the Apolipoprotein E Gene on Brain Function.
abstract: The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ɛ4 allele is a well-established genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Some evidence suggests a negative role of the ApoE ɛ4 allele for cognitive performance in late life, while beneficial effects on cognition have been shown in young age. We investigated age-related effects of the ApoE gene on brain function by assessing cognitive performance, as well as functional activation patterns during retrieval of Face-Name pairs in a group of young (n = 50; age 26.4±4.6 years, 25 ɛ4 carriers) and old (n = 40; age 66.1±7.0 years, 20 ɛ4 carriers) participants. A cross-sectional factorial design was used to examine the effects of age, ApoE genotype, and their interaction on both cognitive performance and the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) brain response during retrieval of Face-Name pairs. While there were no genotype-related differences in cognitive performance, we found a significant interaction of age and ApoE genotype on task-related activation bilaterally in anterior cingulate gyrus and superior frontal gyrus, as well as left and right insula. Old age was associated with increased activity in ɛ4 carriers. The increased BOLD response in old ɛ4 carriers during retrieval could indicate a neurocognitive disadvantage associated with the ɛ4 allele with increasing age. Furthermore, recruitment of neuronal resources resulted in enhanced memory performance in young ɛ4 carriers, pointing to a better neurofunctional capacity associated with the ApoE4 genotype in young age.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.|Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matura
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prvulovic
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheibe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sepanski
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oertel-Knöchel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knöchel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fußer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroradiology, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hattingen
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice, Goethe University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pantel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Apolipoprotein 4; brain; functional MRI; memory