Association between an Alzheimers Disease-Related Index and APOE epsilon 4 Gene Dose. e67163

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 6
• Main Authors: Schraml, Frank, Chen, Kewei, Ayutyanont, Napatkamon, Auttawut, Roontiva, Langbaum, Jessica BS, Lee, Wendy, Liu, Xiaofen, Bandy, Dan, Reeder, Stephanie Q, Alexander, Gene E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Algorithms
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067163

Background We introduced a hypometabolic convergence index (HCI) to characterize in a single measurement the extent to which a person's fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomogram (FDG PET) corresponds to that in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (APOE epsilon 4) gene dose is associated with three levels of risk for late-onset AD. We explored the association between gene dose and HCI in cognitively normal epsilon 4 homozygotes, heterozygotes, and non-carriers. Methods An algorithm was used to characterize and compare AD-related HCIs in cognitively normal individuals, including 36 epsilon 4 homozygotes, 46 heterozygotes, and 78 non-carriers. Results These three groups differed significantly in their HCIs (ANOVA, p = 0.004), and there was a significant association between HCIs and gene dose (linear trend, p = 0.001). Conclusions The HCI is associated with three levels of genetic risk for late-onset AD. This supports the possibility of using a single FDG PET measurement to help in the preclinical detection and tracking of AD.