Longitudinal change in hippocampal volume as a function of apolipoprotein E genotype

Abstract

Article abstract The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene confers an increased risk for the development of AD. The authors compared longitudinal rates of change in hippocampal volume as a function of APOE genotype in nondemented elderly individuals. Rate of volumetric loss was significantly greater among ε4+ compared with ε4− individuals. These results indicate that individuals positive for the APOE ε4 allele may show a greater rate of hippocampal atrophy than their ε4− counterparts, even in the absence of a diagnosis of AD.