Wang Zhiyuan, Pang Jing, Zhou Ruizhi, Qi Jianjiao, Shi Xianglong, Han Bin, Man Xu, Wang Qingqing, Sun Jinping
Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Front Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 10;14:1197987. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1197987. eCollection 2023.
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 and APOE ε4 are the most distinct alleles among the three APOE alleles, both structurally and functionally. However, differences in cognition, brain function, and brain structure between the two alleles have not been comprehensively reported in the literature, especially in non-demented elderly individuals.
A neuropsychological test battery was used to evaluate the differences in cognitive performance in five cognitive domains. Independent component analysis (ICA) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were used separately to analyze resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and the structure MRI data between the two groups. Finally, correlations between differential brain regions and neuropsychological tests were calculated.
APOE ε2 carriers had better cognitive performance in general cognitive, memory, attention, and executive function than APOE ε4 carriers (all < 0.05). In ICA analyses of rs-fMRI data, the difference in the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between two groups is shown in 7 brain networks. In addition, VBM analyses of the T1-weighted image revealed that APOE ε2 carriers had a larger thalamus and right postcentral gyrus volume and a smaller bilateral putamen volume than APOE ε4 carriers. Finally, differences in brain function and structure may be might be the reason that APOE ε2 carriers are better than APOE ε4 carriers in cognitive performance.
These findings suggest that there are significant differences in brain function and structure between APOE ε2 carriers and APOE ε4 carriers, and these significant differences are closely related to their cognitive performance.
载脂蛋白E（APOE）ε2和APOE ε4是APOE三个等位基因中在结构和功能上最具差异的等位基因。然而，关于这两个等位基因在认知、脑功能和脑结构方面的差异，文献中尚未有全面报道，尤其是在非痴呆老年人中。
使用一套神经心理测试来评估五个认知领域的认知表现差异。分别采用独立成分分析（ICA）和基于体素的形态学测量（VBM）来分析两组之间的静息态功能磁共振成像（rs-fMRI）数据和结构磁共振成像数据。最后，计算差异脑区与神经心理测试之间的相关性。
APOE ε2携带者在一般认知、记忆、注意力和执行功能方面的认知表现优于APOE ε4携带者（均P<0.05）。在rs-fMRI数据的ICA分析中，两组之间的静息态功能连接（rsFC）差异显示在7个脑网络中。此外，对T1加权图像的VBM分析显示，APOE ε2携带者的丘脑和右侧中央后回体积较大，双侧壳核体积较小。最后，脑功能和结构的差异可能是APOE ε2携带者在认知表现上优于APOE ε4携带者的原因。
这些发现表明，APOE ε2携带者和APOE ε4携带者在脑功能和结构上存在显著差异，且这些显著差异与其认知表现密切相关。
