Parietal cortex activation predicts memory decline in apolipoprotein E-epsilon 4 carriers

• Apolipoprotein E-[varepsilon]4 is the main known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Functional abnormalities in the parietal cortex have been reported for Alzheimer's disease patients and also for those at risk. Hence, a critical question is whether measurements of parietal cortex integrity may predict negative outcome among at-risk persons. We studied nondementedapolipoprotein E-[varepsilon]4 carriers and found a significant relationship between parietal blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging response during a word categorization task and subsequent episodic memory performance. Thus, the results show that parietal cortex alterations predict memory decline in nondemented apolipoprotein E-[varepsilon]4 carriers, and hence likely progression to Alzheimer's disease.

Nyckelord

Alzheimer's disease

apolipoprotein E

functional magnetic resonance imaging

memory

parietal cortex

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

medicin

Medicine

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