ArticleThe journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease2025
APOE ε4-related differences in brain structure, function, and connectivity at midlife: A scoping review.
Article in The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Apolipoprotein E ɛ3/ɛ4 genotype is associated with premature myocardial infarction: a hospital based retrospective study.BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2026Article
- Brain Age as a Biomarker in Alzheimer's Disease: Narrative Perspectives on Imaging, Biomarkers, Machine Learning, and Intervention Potential.Brain sciences · 2025Review
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4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundThe apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is a major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet there is little consensus about how and when the allele exerts its influence on the brain.
methodsIn this scoping review, we synthesized research examining APOE ε4-related differences on MRI-derived measures of brain structure, function, and connectivity in cognitively unimpaired, middle-aged adults (aged 40-65 years). Four online databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid PsycINFO, Scopus) were searched on July 11, 2024, and forward/backward reference searching was conducted on identified studies. We extracted data on sample characteristics, methods, and key APOE ε4-related results.
resultsOur pre-registered search strategy identified 30 relevant studies. Overall, we found little evidence of robust, consistent differences between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers at midlife, especially in relation to brain structure. However, among the studies identified, small samples were common, and limited consideration was afforded to factors such as sex and ethnocultural diversity.
conclusionOverall, the existing literature indicates that APOE ε4 exerts little, if any, influence on brain structure at midlife, while differences in brain function and connectivity remain poorly characterized.
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