Alterations in dorsal and ventral posterior cingulate connectivity in APOE ε4 carriers at risk of Alzheimer's disease
Rebecca Kerestes,
Pramit M. Phal,
Chris Steward,
Bradford A. Moffat,
Simon Salinas,
Kay L. Cox,
Kathryn A. Ellis,
Elizabeth V. Cyarto,
David Ames,
Ralph N. Martins,
Colin L. Masters,
Christopher C. Rowe,
Matthew J. Sharman,
Olivier Salvado,
Cassandra Szoeke,
Michelle Lai,
Nicola T. Lautenschlager,
Patricia M. Desmond
Affiliations
Rebecca Kerestes
Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Pramit M. Phal
Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Chris Steward
Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Bradford A. Moffat
Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Simon Salinas
Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Kay L. Cox
School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Kathryn A. Ellis
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Elizabeth V. Cyarto
National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
David Ames
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Ralph N. Martins
School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
Colin L. Masters
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Christopher C. Rowe
Department of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia
Matthew J. Sharman
School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
Olivier Salvado
Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization Preventative Health National Research Flagship, Australian e-Health Research Centre, Brisbane, Australia
Cassandra Szoeke
National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Michelle Lai
National Ageing Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and North Western Mental Health, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
Patricia M. Desmond
Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
Background Recent evidence suggests that exercise plays a role in cognition and that the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) can be divided into dorsal and ventral subregions based on distinct connectivity patterns. Aims To examine the effect of physical activity and division of the PCC on brain functional connectivity measures in subjective memory complainers (SMC) carrying the epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE 4) allele. Method Participants were 22 SMC carrying the APOE ɛ4 allele (ɛ4+; mean age 72.18 years) and 58 SMC non-carriers (ɛ4–; mean age 72.79 years). Connectivity of four dorsal and ventral seeds was examined. Relationships between PCC connectivity and physical activity measures were explored. Results ɛ4+ individuals showed increased connectivity between the dorsal PCC and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the ventral PCC and supplementary motor area (SMA). Greater levels of physical activity correlated with the magnitude of ventral PCC–SMA connectivity. Conclusions The results provide the first evidence that ɛ4+ individuals at increased risk of cognitive decline show distinct alterations in dorsal and ventral PCC functional connectivity.
