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. 2012 Mar;83(3):276-81.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2011.11.001. Epub 2011 Nov 18.

Abnormal event-related potentials in young and middle-aged adults with the ApoE ε4 allele

Krystin Corby  1 , Charlie D Morgan, Claire Murphy
Affiliations

Abnormal event-related potentials in young and middle-aged adults with the ApoE ε4 allele

Krystin Corby et al. Int J Psychophysiol. 2012 Mar.

Abstract

The largest genetic susceptibility factor for Alzheimer's disease is the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 allele. Cognitive decline and olfactory impairment are greater in those positive for the ε4 allele. This study sought to determine if the olfactory event-related potential (OERP), compared to the visual ERP, would be sensitive to these subtle declines. Participants included 40 individuals from two age groups, half of each group were ε4 allele positive and half were ε4 negative. Visual ERPs did not demonstrate significant differences between ApoE groups. OERPs demonstrated robust age by ApoE interactions. P3 latencies were significantly longer in ε4 young and middle age participants. These findings suggest that very early olfactory and cognitive changes related to ApoE status are detectible via the OERP.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest associated with this research.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Grand averaged olfactory and visual ERPs by age and ApoE groups at the Pz electrode site (40 participants, n=10 per age/ApoE group).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Visual and olfactory average P3 latencies by age and ApoE group. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean (SEM).
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