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Alzheimer's Research & Therapy
Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Apolipoprotein E-dependent load of white matter hyperintensities in Alzheimer’s disease: a voxel-based lesion mapping study

Authors: Katrin Morgen, Michael Schneider, Lutz Frölich, Heike Tost, Michael M Plichta, Heike Kölsch, Fabian Rakebrandt, Otto Rienhoff, Frank Jessen, Oliver Peters, Holger Jahn, Christian Luckhaus, Michael Hüll, Hermann-Josef Gertz, Johannes Schröder, Harald Hampel, Stefan J Teipel, Johannes Pantel, Isabella Heuser, Jens Wiltfang, Eckart Rüther, Johannes Kornhuber, Wolfgang Maier, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg

Published in: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Introduction

White matter (WM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hyperintensities are common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but their pathophysiological relevance and relationship to genetic factors are unclear. In the present study, we investigated potential apolipoprotein E (APOE)-dependent effects on the extent and cognitive impact of WM hyperintensities in patients with AD.

Methods

WM hyperintensity volume on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images of 201 patients with AD (128 carriers and 73 non-carriers of the APOE ε4 risk allele) was determined globally as well as regionally with voxel-based lesion mapping. Clinical, neuropsychological and MRI data were collected from prospective multicenter trials conducted by the German Dementia Competence Network.

Results

WM hyperintensity volume was significantly greater in non-carriers of the APOE ε4 allele. Lesion distribution was similar among ε4 carriers and non-carriers. Only ε4 non-carriers showed a correlation between lesion volume and cognitive performance.

Conclusion

The current findings indicate an increased prevalence of WM hyperintensities in non-carriers compared with carriers of the APOE ε4 allele among patients with AD. This is consistent with a possibly more pronounced contribution of heterogeneous vascular risk factors to WM damage and cognitive impairment in patients with AD without APOE ε4-mediated risk.
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Metadata
Title
Apolipoprotein E-dependent load of white matter hyperintensities in Alzheimer’s disease: a voxel-based lesion mapping study
Authors
Katrin Morgen
Michael Schneider
Lutz Frölich
Heike Tost
Michael M Plichta
Heike Kölsch
Fabian Rakebrandt
Otto Rienhoff
Frank Jessen
Oliver Peters
Holger Jahn
Christian Luckhaus
Michael Hüll
Hermann-Josef Gertz
Johannes Schröder
Harald Hampel
Stefan J Teipel
Johannes Pantel
Isabella Heuser
Jens Wiltfang
Eckart Rüther
Johannes Kornhuber
Wolfgang Maier
Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1758-9193
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-015-0111-8

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