Longitudinal change in hippocampal volume as a function of apolipoprotein E genotype

The epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene confers an increas ed risk for the development of AD. The authors compared longitudinal rates of change in hippocampal volume as a function of APOE genotype in nondement ed elderly individuals. Rate of volumetric loss was significantly greater a mong epsilon 4+ compared with epsilon 4- individuals. These results indicat e that individuals positive for the APOE epsilon 4 allele may show a greate r rate of hippocampal atrophy than their epsilon 4- counterparts, even in t he absence of a diagnosis of AD.