P2‐008: Regional gray matter brain volume differences in individuals with a maternal versus paternal family history of Alzheimer's disease
Year: 2008
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: First-degree family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a known risk factor for developing AD. Recently Mosconi, et al., 2007 found that individuals with a maternal family history (FHm) of AD show cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRglc) reductions in brain regions affected in AD patients compared to individuals with a paternal family history (FHp) and those without a parental history (FH). The present study examined differences in regional gray matter volume (GMV) between FHm, FHp and FH groups. Based on Mosconi's results, we hypothesized that the FHm group would show lower GMV compared to the FHp and FH groups in regions vulnerable to AD (medial temporal lobe, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), parietotemporal and frontal cortices). A voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to assess regional GMV differences in 197 cognitively normal adults (aged 40 -65): 80 FHm, 44 FHp, 73 FH. Groups were matched on age, sex, education, and prevelance of apolipoprotein E ϵ4 allele. T1-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) were acquired on a 3T scanner. Gray matter probability maps were generated by segmenting, normalizing and smoothing the MRIs using the VBM5 toolbox in SPM5. An ANOVA was performed with the gray matter probability maps, controlling for sex, age, education and total GMV. The FHm group showed lower GMV in the PCC and the right inferior parietal lobule (P=.001 unc.) compared to the FHp group, while the FHp group showed lower GMV in the right parahippocampal gyrus (P=.001 unc) compared to the FHm group. When restricted to these regions, comparisons with the FH group revealed higher GMV in the right parahippocampal gyrus in the FHm group and higher GMV in the PCC in the FHp group (P=.001 unc). These results show that FHm and FHp risk factors differentially affect GMV in brain regions vulnerable to AD. Further, the higher GMV observed in the at-risk groups was inconsistent with our hypothesis. Whether this result suggests a pathological or compensatory mechanism requires further investigation.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2070488777