Wang Dandan, Xu Chang, Wang Wenxiao, Lu Hui, Zhang Junying, Liang Furu, Li Xin
State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
Brain Sci. 2022 Apr 19;12(5):515. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12050515.
Allele 4 of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE ε4) and hypertension are considered risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The detection of differences in cognitive function and brain networks between hypertensive patients who are APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers may help in understanding how hypertension and risk genes cumulatively impair brain function, which could provide critical insights into the genetic mechanism by which hypertension serves as a potential risk factor for cognitive decline and even AD. Using behavioral data from 233 elderly hypertensive patients and neuroimaging data from 38 of them from Beijing, China; the study aimed to assess the effects of APOE ε4 on cognition and to explore related changes in functional connectivity. Cognitively, the patients with APOE ε4 showed decreased executive function, memory and language. In the MRI sub-cohort, the frontoparietal networks in the APOE ε4 carrier group exhibited an altered pattern, mainly in the left precentral regions, inferior frontal lobe and angular gyrus. More importantly, the decline of cognitive function was correlated with abnormal FC in the left precentral regions in APOE ε4 carriers. APOE ε4 aggravated the dysfunction in frontal and parietal regions in hypertensive patients. This highlights the importance of brain protection in hypertensive patients, especially those with a genetic risk of AD.
载脂蛋白E基因（APOE）的ε4等位基因和高血压被认为是阿尔茨海默病（AD）的危险因素。检测APOE ε4携带者和非携带者高血压患者之间认知功能和脑网络的差异，可能有助于理解高血压和风险基因如何累积损害脑功能，这可为高血压作为认知衰退甚至AD潜在危险因素的遗传机制提供关键见解。利用来自233名老年高血压患者的行为数据和其中38名来自中国北京患者的神经影像数据，本研究旨在评估APOE ε4对认知的影响，并探索功能连接的相关变化。在认知方面，APOE ε4患者的执行功能、记忆和语言能力下降。在MRI亚组中，APOE ε4携带者组的额顶叶网络呈现出改变的模式，主要在左侧中央前回区域、额下回和角回。更重要的是，认知功能的下降与APOE ε4携带者左侧中央前回区域的异常功能连接相关。APOE ε4加重了高血压患者额叶和顶叶区域的功能障碍。这凸显了高血压患者脑保护的重要性，尤其是那些具有AD遗传风险的患者。
