Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41042579›Full record

ArticleEpileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape2026

Exploring the role of apolipoprotein ε4 in progressive myoclonic epilepsy type 1.

Janina Gunnar, Yawu Liu, Henri Eronen, Tarja Joensuu, Marja Äikiä, Jelena Hyppönen, Katri Silvennoinen, Esa Mervaala, Juhana Hakumäki, Anna-Elina Lehesjoki and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Janina GunnarInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5996-1653
Yawu LiuInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Henri EronenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Tarja JoensuuFolkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Marja ÄikiäKuopio Epilepsy Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Member of ERN EpiCARE, Kuopio, Finland.
Jelena HyppönenKuopio Epilepsy Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Member of ERN EpiCARE, Kuopio, Finland.
Katri SilvennoinenEpilepsia Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Member of ERN EpiCare, Helsinki, Finland.
Esa MervaalaInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Juhana HakumäkiInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Anna-Elina LehesjokiFolkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Reetta KälviäinenInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2935-5131

Funding

Folkhälsan Research FoundationSaastamoinen Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveProgressive myoclonic epilepsy type 1 (EPM1) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by biallelic variants in the cystatin B (CSTB) gene. Despite a progressive course, phenotype severity varies among patients, even within families. We studied the potential role of APOE ε4 in modifying phenotypic diversity in EPM1, given its established association with neurodegeneration, particularly in Alzheimer's disease.

methodsAPOE genotypes were determined for 65 genetically verified EPM1 patients homozygous for the CSTB expansion mutation. The Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale (UMRS), Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 questionnaire (QOLIE-31), intellectual ability (WAIS-R), clinical data, and quantitative neuroimaging data were compared between APOE ε4 carriers and noncarriers to assess potential correlations with EPM1 severity. Volumetric analysis was performed on MRI data, while diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) and atlas-based white matter (WM) tract region of interest (ROI) analysis.

resultsThe cohort included 20 ε4 carriers (16 ε3/ε4 and 4 ε4/ε4) and 45 ε4 noncarriers (36 ε3/ε3, 8 ε2/ε3, and 1 ε2/ε2). No significant differences were found in UMRS or disease duration. Carriers had better QOLIE-31 scores in emotional well-being (p = .047), energy/fatigue (p = .048), and medical effects (p = .024). In volumetric analysis, carriers exhibited greater preservation of bilateral hippocampal and amygdalar volumes but demonstrated more pronounced cortical thinning in the left lingual gyrus, right lateral occipital gyrus, and right posterior cingulate (p < .05). Carriers exhibited more widespread WM degeneration in DTI, characterized by reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) and increased mean diffusivity (MD). SIGNIFICANCE: Despite greater white matter degeneration and reduced cortical thickness, APOE ε4 carriers exhibited preserved deep brain volumes and better self-reported well-being. This study highlights the complex interplay between genetic factors and neurodegenerative processes. Our future research aims to provide more natural history data of EPM1 and correlate long-term phenotypic data with additional geno-phenotypic analyses.

Indexed as

Apolipoprotein E4Myoclonic Epilepsies, ProgressiveAdultCystatin BDiffusion Tensor ImagingFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedQuality of LifeWhite MatterApolipoprotein E4Cystatin BAPOEEPM1geneULDUnverricht‐Lundborg disease

Identifiers

PMID41042579
PMCPMC12964178

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.