P3‐165: Effect of aging on functional brain connectivity: Association with apolipoprotein E genotype
Year: 2010
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The ∊4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (ApoE) and aging are well established risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both factors influence myelin breakdown (Tang et al., 1997; Barzokis et al., 2006). This may result in functional disconnection of neuronal networks and underlies cognitive impairment. Interhemispheric coherence derived from EEG recordings is a measure of functional interhemispheric connectivity. The aim of this study was to determine whether ApoE genotype could influence the changes of functional connectivity assessed by intherhemispheric EEG coherence in normal aging. We examined age-related differences in functional brain connectivity assessed by interhemispheric EEG coherence in 57 ApoE ∊4 allele carriers (age range 28-82 years) and 61 ApoE ∊4 allele non-carriers (29-81 years), all of whom were right-handed and were free of psychiatric and neurological conditions. All subjects underwent cognitive screening. Interhemispheric coherence of different EEG bands was found to decrease with age in all examined groups. The reduction of interhemispheric coherence of alpha activity in elderly subjects correlated with the worse performance in verbal memory test. The ApoE ∊4 allele carriers had greater rate of decline in alpha interhemispheric coherence during aging as compare to ApoE ∊4 allele non-carriers. The results indicate that altered functional connectivity in normal aging is associated with ApoE genotype. The progressive decline in interhemispheric connectivity, probably due to the altered myelin breakdown, contributes to memory decrement and suggests the impact of age-related disconnection process in pathogenesis of ApoE induced AD.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2002947132