The association of APOE ‐ε4 with clinicopathological, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and neuroimaging features in α‐synucleinopathies

Abstract

The ε4-allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) presents an elevated risk not only for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but also for Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Indeed, the independent influence of APOE-ε4 on the promotion and exacerbation of α-synuclein pathology has recently been suggested. However, the precise phenotypic associations of APOE-ε4 in α-synucleinopathies are variable. The primary objective of this first, comprehensive systematic review was to identify biomarkers, phenotypes, or other clinicopathological characteristics that reliably associate with APOE-ε4 in α-synucleinopathies [Parkinson's disease (PD), DLB, PDD, and multiple system atrophy (MSA)], which may in turn uncover important pathophysiological mechanisms.Electronic databases were systematically searched from January 1st , 1995 through December 31st , 2020, as per the PRISMA guidelines. Studies evaluating the association of APOE-ε4 with clinicopathological, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and neuroimaging phenotypes in clinically and/or pathologically diagnosed cases of PD, PDD, DLB, and MSA cases were reviewed.A total of 136 studies were eligible for inclusion (Figure). APOE-ε4 was found to be consistently associated with: 1) lower cerebrospinal fluid levels of amyloid-β 1-42 in PDD and DLB, 2) cognitive deficits in the memory domain in PD, PDD, and DLB, 3) mediotemporal cortical atrophy primarily in DLB, 3) cerebral amyloid angiopathy, shorter survival, and accelerated decline in global cognition in DLB, as well as 4) the co-occurrence of AD-type neuropathological features. Furthermore, APOE-ε4 was associated, albeit inconsistently, with: 1) the presence and severity of diffuse neocortical Lewy body pathology and, 2) elevated tracer retention on amyloid positron emission tomography in PD, PDD, and DLB, 3) greater odds of dementia in PD, and 4) other genetic and pathophysiological factors to enhance the cumulative risk for DLB. APOE-ε4 was not associated with disease risk or α-synuclein pathology in MSA. Studies also highlighted the relationship of APOE-ε4 with neuropsychiatric, epigenetic (DNA methylation), sleep, immunohistochemical, and biochemical factors in α-synucleinopathies, which will be presented.In addition to its role in AD, APOE-ε4 influences the disease presentation and progression particularly in PDD and DLB. Guided by reliable biomarkers, further research to unravel the underlying mechanisms will assist in developing early prevention strategies targeting the APOE protein.