Functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography differences associated with APOEε4 in young healthy adults

Functional neural alterations are present in middle-aged to late-aged healthy individuals carrying the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE epsilon 4) gene, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Neural activity was measured in young adults with and without the epsilon 4 allele (APOE epsilon 4+ and APOE epsilon 4-) by functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography while performing a visual working memory task on two separate days. Greater activity was observed in frontal areas and cingulate gyri in APOE epsilon 4+ participants by both functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography with regional blood oxygenation level-dependent responses correlating with increased theta band power. The findings suggest that the presence of the APOE epsilon 4 allele has physiological consequences before aging that may contribute to risk for Alzheimer's disease.