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. 2018 Jul 7:10:438-447.
doi: 10.1016/j.dadm.2018.06.004. eCollection 2018.

Sex differences in the association between apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and Alzheimer's disease markers

Erin E Sundermann  1 , My Tran  2 , Pauline M Maki  3 , Mark W Bondi  1   4
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Sex differences in the association between apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and Alzheimer's disease markers

Erin E Sundermann et al. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Introduction: We determined whether the effect of apolipoprotein E (APOE)-ε4 genotype on Alzheimer's disease (AD) markers differs in men and women across AD stages.

Methods: Among normal control (NC) participants (N = 702) and participants with mild cognitive impairment (N = 576) and AD (N = 305), we examined the associations of sex and APOE-ε4 carrier status with cortical amyloid-β (Aβ) burden, hippocampal volume ratio (HpVR; hippocampal volume/intracranial volume × 103), brain glucose metabolism, and verbal memory.

Results: In NC, APOE-ε4 related to greater Aβ burden and poorer verbal memory across sex but to smaller HpVR and hypometabolism in men only. In mild cognitive impairment, APOE-ε4 related to smaller HpVR, hypometabolism, greater Aβ burden, and poorer verbal memory across sex. In AD, APOE-ε4 related to greater Aβ burden in men only and smaller HpVR across sex and showed no association with hypometabolism or verbal memory.

Discussion: Sex differences in the association between APOE-ε4 and AD markers vary by disease stage.

Keywords: APOE; Amyloid-β plaque deposition; Brain glucose metabolism; Hippocampal volume; Sex differences; Verbal memory.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean AD biomarkers (A–C) and AVLT Immediate Recall scores (D) as a function of sex and APOE-ε4 status in NC. *Significant mean difference at P < .05 while adjusting for age and education. Abbreviations: APOE4+, apolipoprotein ε4 allele carrier; APOE4−, apolipoprotein ε4 allele noncarrier; AVLT score, Immediate Recall outcome of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (range, 0–75); FDG, fludeoxyglucose; HpVR, hippocampal volume ratio; SUVR, standardized uptake volume ratio.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean AD biomarkers (A–C) and AVLT Immediate Recall scores (D) as a function of sex and APOE-ε4 status in MCI. *Significant mean difference at P < .05 while adjusting for age and education. Abbreviations: APOE4+, apolipoprotein ε4 allele carrier; APOE4−, apolipoprotein ε4 allele noncarrier; AVLT score, Immediate Recall outcome of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (range, 0–75); FDG, fludeoxyglucose; HpVR, hippocampal volume ratio; SUVR, standardized uptake volume ratio.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean AD biomarkers (A–C) and AVLT Immediate Recall scores (D) as a function of sex and APOE-ε4 status in AD. *Significant mean difference at P < .05 while adjusting for age and education. Abbreviations: APOE4+, apolipoprotein ε4 allele carrier; APOE4−, apolipoprotein ε4 allele noncarrier; AVLT score, Immediate Recall outcome of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (range, 0–75); FDG, fludeoxyglucose; HpVR, hippocampal volume ratio; SUVR, standardized uptake volume ratio.
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