BRAIN IMAGING

Functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography differences associated with APOEε4 in young healthy adults

Filbey, Francesca M.a b; Slack, Kelly J.a; Sunderland, Trey P.a; Cohen, Robert M.a

Author Information

aGeriatric Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland

b(Current address) Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA

Correspondence and requests for reprints to Dr Francesca M. Filbey, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Muenzinger Bldg., D-326-B, Boulder, CO 80309, USA

Tel: +1 720 933 2489; fax: +1 303 492 2967; e-mail: [email protected]

Received 16 June 2006; accepted 27 June 2006

NeuroReport 17(15):p 1585-1590, October 23, 2006. | DOI: 10.1097/01.wnr.0000234745.27571.d1

Abstract

Functional neural alterations are present in middle-aged to late-aged healthy individuals carrying the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOEε4) gene, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Neural activity was measured in young adults with and without the ε4 allele (APOEε4+ and APOEε4−) by functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography while performing a visual working memory task on two separate days. Greater activity was observed in frontal areas and cingulate gyri in APOEε4+participants by both functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography with regional blood oxygenation level-dependent responses correlating with increased theta band power. The findings suggest that the presence of the APOEε4 allele has physiological consequences before aging that may contribute to risk for Alzheimer's disease.

© 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

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