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A cross-sectional examination of a family history of Alzheimer's disease and ApoE epsilon 4 on physical fitness, molecular biomarkers, and neurocognitive performance
Journal article   Peer reviewed

A cross-sectional examination of a family history of Alzheimer's disease and ApoE epsilon 4 on physical fitness, molecular biomarkers, and neurocognitive performance

C-L Tsai, K.I. Erickson, H-S Sun, Y-M Kuo and M-C Pai
Physiology & Behavior, Vol.230, Art. 113268
2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113268
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Abstract

Purpose The present study examined whether the ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene impacts molecular biomarkers and neurocognitive performance among individuals at genetic risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The correlations between physical fitness and molecular/neurocognitive indices were also explored. Methods Fasting blood samples were collected from 162 individuals with a family history of AD (ADFH). There were twenty-two carriers of the ApoE-4 variant (ApoE-4 group). For comparison purposes we randomly selected 22 non-ɛ4 carriers (non-ApoE-4 group) from the ADFH individuals. Circulating inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-15), neuroprotective growth factors (e.g., BDNF, IGF-1, IGF-2, VEGF, and FGF-2), and Amyloid-β peptides (e.g., Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42), neurocognitive performance [e.g., behavior and brain even-related potentials (ERP)] during a task-switching paradigm, as well as physical fitness scores were measured. Results The ApoE-4 group relative to the non-ApoE-4 group was similar with respect to molecular biomarkers, physical fitness, and most measures of neurocognitive performance. However, ADFH individuals that were ɛ4 carriers exhibited significantly higher local switching accuracy costs, worse accuracy as well as smaller ERP P3 amplitudes for the memory-switching condition. Importantly, cardiorespiratory fitness levels were significantly correlated with accuracy for most task-switching conditions, and levels of BDNF, Aβ1–40, and Aβ1–42 collapsed across the two groups even when controlling for the age co-variable, while the ApoE-4 group revealed similar pattern of results. Conclusions These data suggest that individuals with ADFH that were carriers of the ApoE-4 variant performed worse on the task-switching paradigm and that this could be due to compromised task-set and memory updating processes. Physical exercise interventions aimed to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness levels could be a potential AD prevention strategy for ameliorating cognitive function and reducing the accumulation of the Aβ peptides in this high risk group.

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9 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.52 Neurodegenerative Diseases
1.52.60 Dementia
Web Of Science research areas
Behavioral Sciences
Psychology, Biological
ESI research areas
Neuroscience & Behavior
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