Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41395713›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association2025

Apolipoprotein E ε4 homozygosity exacerbates retinal and cerebral microvascular dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: A mediation analysis of vascular contributions to cognitive decline.

Yuntao Liu, Hanyu Zhu, Youjie Wang, Xiaoqian Luan, Jiahui Chen, Jiajing Qian, Jianing Shen, Yinhe Liu, Caiyun Wen, Lin Cao and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Yuntao LiuDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Hanyu ZhuDepartment of Neurology, Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, China.
Youjie WangDepartment of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Xiaoqian LuanDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jiahui ChenDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jiajing QianDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jianing ShenDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Yinhe LiuNanjing Vazyme Biotech Company Limited, Nanjing, Qixia, China.
Caiyun WenDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Lin CaoNanjing Vazyme Biotech Company Limited, Nanjing, Qixia, China.
Bo TangNanjing Vazyme Biotech Company Limited, Nanjing, Qixia, China.
Ho KoGerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
William Robert KwapongDepartment of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zhen WangDepartment of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Funding

National Key R&D Program of China 2022YFC2406500Zhejiang Clinovation Pride Code CXTD202501044
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionApolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with homozygous carriers (ε4/ε4) experiencing accelerated cognitive decline. While its role in amyloid and tau pathology is established, its impact on retinal and cerebral microvasculature remains underexplored.

methodsA total of 107 AD (46 non-carriers, 42 heterozygotes, 19 homozygotes) underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to assess retinal microvasculature and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -derived peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) to evaluate cerebral small vessel disease. Plasma biomarkers (Aβ

resultsHomozygous APOE ε4 carriers exhibited the most severe reduction in retinal microvascular density and higher PSMD (p < 0.001). Superficial retinal vessels and PSMD partially mediated APOE ε4's association with cognitive impairment. DISCUSSION: APOE ε4 homozygosity exacerbates retinal and cerebral microvascular dysfunction, which partially mediates cognitive impairment in AD. HIGHLIGHTS: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 homozygosity is associated with the most severe reductions in retinal microvascular densities and elevated cerebral small vessel disease (peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity [PSMD]) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Vascular dysfunction (retinal and cerebral) correlates with lower Aβ42, higher p-tau217/Aβ

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseApolipoprotein E4Cognitive DysfunctionMicrovesselsRetinal VesselsAgedBiomarkersFemaleHomozygoteHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedTomography, Optical CoherenceApolipoprotein E4BiomarkersAlzheimer's diseaseAPOE ε4cognitive declinevascular dysfunction

Identifiers

PMID41395713
PMCPMC12703667

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Registered trials

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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.