title: Affect of APOE on information processing speed in non-demented elderly population: a preliminary structural MRI study.
abstract: APOE is one of the strongest genetic factors associated with information processing speed (IPS). Herein, we explored the neural substrates underlying APOE-related IPS alteration by measuring lobar distribution of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cortical grey matter volume (GMV) and thickness. Using the ADNI database, we evaluated 178 cognitively normal elderly individuals including 34 APOE ε2 carriers, 54 APOE ε4 carriers and 90 ε3 homozygotes. IPS was determined using Trail Making Tests (TMT). We quantified lobar distribution of WMH, cortical GM lobar volume, cortical thickness among three groups. Finally, we used Pearson's correlation and general linear models to examine structural MRI markers in relation to IPS. There were significant differences of IPS among groups, with ε4 carriers displaying the worst performance. Across groups, significant differences in frontal and parietal WMH load were observed (the highest in ε4 carriers); however, no significant differences in cortical GMV and thickness were found. Pearson's correlation analysis showed parietal WMH volume was significantly related with IPS, especially in ε4 carriers. Subsequently a general linear model demonstrated that parietal WMH volume, age and the interaction between parietal WMH volume and age, was significantly associated with IPS, even after adjusting total intracranial volume (TIV), gender and vascular risk factors. Disruption of WM structure, rather than atrophy of GM, plays a more critical role in APOE ε4 allele-specific IPS. Moreover, specific WMH loci are closely associated with IPS; increased parietal WMH volume, especially in ε4 carriers, was independently contributed to slower IPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yerfan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiaerken
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xinfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Peiyu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Tiantian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yunlu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.88 Jiefang Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, China. zhangminming@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Minming
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0145-7558
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2 / Q000235:genetics*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size; D000074286:Preliminary Data; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4
keywords: APOE; Information processing speed; Surface-based analysis; Voxel-based morphometry (VBM); White matter hyperintensities