Evaluating Potentially Synergistic Effects of APOE‐ε4 and Vascular Risk Factors on White Matter Hyperintensity Burden

TL;DR

This study examines how the APOE-ε4 gene and vascular risk factors like hypertension affect white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden in the brain, finding that they each contribute independently but not synergistically.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence that APOE-ε4 and hypertension independently increase WMH burden without a synergistic effect.

Findings

APOE-ε4 carriers had greater WMH volume compared to noncarriers (p = .025).

Hypertension was associated with increased WMH volume (p = .022).

APOE-ε4 did not interact synergistically with vascular risk factors to increase WMH burden.

Abstract

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) observed on MRI are indicative of cerebral small vessel disease. WMHs are prevalent in ageing and might be more severe in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Though genetic and vascular risk factors (VRFs) may play a role, whether these factors directly influence WMH burden is unclear. We investigated whether APOE‐ε4 and VRFs were each associated with greater WMH burden and then examined whether associations between VRFs and WMH burden were stronger in APOE‐ε4 carriers.

Participants (n = 248) from New Zealand Dementia Prevention Research Clinics classified as control, subjective cognitive decline, amnestic single‐ or multiple‐domain mild cognitive impairment, or early AD‐dementia were included. APOE genotyping was performed on DNA from fasting bloods. A composite VRF, the Framingham Heart Study's cardiovascular risk score (FRS‐CVD) was calculated. Hypertension was also analysed separately given its associations with increased dementia risk and small vessel changes related to WMHs. Hypertension was considered present if participants either had a history of hypertension, were on hypertension treatment, had systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140mmHg, or diastolic BP ≥90mmHg. Three multiple linear regression models evaluated whether APOE‐ε4 carriership, FRS‐CVD, or hypertension predicted WMH volume. Two multiple regression models tested interactions between APOE‐ε4 and each VRF. Covariates in regression models included classification group, age, and intracranial volume (ICV). Standardised regression coefficients (β) and p‐values were reported for statistically significant predictors of interest.

WMH volume was greater in APOE‐ε4 carriers compared to noncarriers (p = .025, β=0.11). WMH volume was also greater in those with hypertension (p = .022, β=0.12). Age, ICV, and classification group were also significant predictors of WMH volume. The FRS‐CVD was not associated with WMH volume (p = .941, β=‐0.00). APOE‐ε4 allele presence did not interact with VRFs in predicting WMH volume (p>.05 for APOE‐ε4*FRS‐CVD and APOE‐ε4*hypertension).

We found APOE‐ε4 and hypertension are each associated with greater WMH burden, but that these risk factors do not appear to work synergistically. Whereas hypertension is a strong risk factor for arteriolosclerosis that is associated with WMHs, impaired blood‐brain barrier integrity is linked to the APOE‐ε4 allele and might be one mechanism by which APOE‐ε4 contributes to WMH burden.

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