Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer's disease pathology in African American older adults

Sarah K Royse; Beth E Snitz; Ashley V Hill; Alexandria C Reese; Rebecca E Roush; M Ilyas Kamboh; Marnie Bertolet; Anum Saeed; Brian J Lopresti; Victor L Villemagne; Oscar L Lopez; Steven E Reis; James T Becker; Ann D Cohen

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.03.005

Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer's disease pathology in African American older adults

Neurobiol Aging. 2024 Jul:139:11-19. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.03.005. Epub 2024 Mar 30.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University of Pittsburgh Department of Epidemiology, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; University of Pittsburgh Department of Radiology, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: sak225@pitt.edu.
² University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
³ University of Pittsburgh Department of Epidemiology, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
⁴ University of Pittsburgh Department of Radiology, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
⁵ University of Pittsburgh Department of Epidemiology, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; University of Pittsburgh Department of Human Genetics, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
⁶ University of Pittsburgh Department of Epidemiology, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; University of Pittsburgh Department of Biostatistics, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
⁷ University of Pittsburgh Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
⁸ University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
⁹ University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
¹⁰ University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychology, 210 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.

PMID: 38582070
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.03.005

Abstract

The apolipoprotein-E4 (APOE*4) and apolipoprotein-E2 (APOE*2) alleles are more common in African American versus non-Hispanic white populations, but relationships of both alleles with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology among African American individuals are unclear. We measured APOE allele and β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau using blood samples and positron emission tomography (PET) images, respectively. Individual regression models tested associations of each APOE allele with Aβ or tau PET overall, stratified by racialized group, and with a racialized group interaction. We included 358 older adults (42% African American) with Aβ PET, 134 (29% African American) of whom had tau PET. APOE*4 was associated with higher Aβ in non-Hispanic white (P < 0.0001), but not African American (P = 0.64) participants; racialized group modified the association between APOE*4 and Aβ (P < 0.0001). There were no other racialized group differences. These results suggest that the association of APOE*4 and Aβ differs between African American and non-Hispanic white populations. Other drivers of AD pathology in African American populations should be identified as potential therapeutic targets.

Keywords: PET; apolipoprotein-E; racialization; tau; β-amyloid.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alleles
Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
Alzheimer Disease* / pathology
Amyloid beta-Peptides* / metabolism
Apolipoprotein E4 / genetics
Apolipoproteins E / genetics
Black or African American* / genetics
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Brain / pathology
Female
Genetic Association Studies
Humans
Male
Positron-Emission Tomography*
White
tau Proteins* / genetics

Substances

Amyloid beta-Peptides
Apolipoprotein E4
Apolipoproteins E
tau Proteins