Free-water imaging of the nucleus basalis of Meynert in apolipoprotein E4 carriers.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the interactive effects of APOE ε4 genotype and cardiovascular risk on the microstructure of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), a key cholinergic region affected early in AD, using advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 167 cognitively unimpaired older adults from the Arizona APOE Cohort. Participants were stratified by genotype: APOE ε4 non-carriers (N = 83), heterozygous carriers (N = 51), and homozygous carriers (N = 33). Cardiovascular risk was quantified using a composite score calcu

SUBMITTER: Ofori E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12479503 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature