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Gong C, Song W, Zhu Z, Yang D, Zhao X, Xu Y, Zhao H. APOE ε4 influences the dynamic functional connectivity variability and cognitive performance in Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2025; 104:1103-1114. [PMID: 40151915 DOI: 10.1177/13872877251322687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2025]
Abstract
BackgroundApolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 is the most significant genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, its impact on the dynamic changes in resting-state functional connectivity (FC), particularly concerning network formation, interaction, and dissolution over time, remains largely unexplored in AD.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the effect of APOE ε4 on dynamic FC (dFC) variability and cognitive performance in AD.MethodsWe analyzed the dFC of AD patients, comparing APOE ε4 carriers (n = 33) with non-carriers (n = 41). The whole-brain dFC was assessed by calculating dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (dfALFF) and dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo). To further explore the relationship between cognitive function and dFC in AD patients, we conducted a correlation analysis. Mediation analysis was also performed to determine whether dFC mediates the link between the APOE ε4 and cognitive decline in AD patients.ResultsAD patients carrying the APOE ε4 exhibited more severe cognitive impairment, along with reduced dReHo and dfALFF in both the left and right posterior cerebellar lobes. In these carriers, the dFC analysis showed lower dFC between the left posterior cerebellar lobe and the left middle temporal gyrus, which was positively correlated with executive function and information processing speed. Additionally, mediation analysis indicated that APOE ε4 influences dFC in this brain region, contributing to executive dysfunction in AD.ConclusionsThese findings offer preliminary evidence that APOE ε4 modulates fluctuating communication within the cerebellar lobe and the dFC between the cerebellar lobe and the temporal gyrus in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- ChengBing Gong
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - WenTing Song
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - ZhengYang Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Neurology and Oncology Drug Development, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics, Nanjing, China
- Simcere Medical Laboratory Science, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing, China
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Azargoonjahromi A, Eivazi M, Nasiri H, Tarhriz V, Payandeh Z. Elevated CSF GAP-43 in Mild Cognitive Impairment Linked to Cognitive Impairment Through Increased Amyloid-β Accumulation, with a Shift to Reduced Amyloid-β Accumulation in Alzheimer's Disease. J Mol Neurosci 2025; 75:39. [PMID: 40111590 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-025-02333-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2025] [Accepted: 03/12/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025]
Abstract
Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), a key regulator of synaptic plasticity, neuronal growth, and memory, has recently been identified as a crucial biomarker for synaptic dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying GAP-43's role in cognitive impairment by examining the relationship between CSF GAP-43 levels and amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in brain regions like the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. This study included 332 participants sourced from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), categorized into three groups: 93 cognitively normal (CN), 218 with MCI, and 21 with AD dementia. Cognitive status was assessed with ADAS-Cog 13, CSF GAP-43 levels via ELISA, and Aβ accumulation using florbetapir PET imaging and Syngo.PET for SUVr values in key brain regions. The results revealed that CSF GAP-43 levels were highest in the AD dementia group, followed by the MCI group, and lowest in the CN group, with a significant difference (p < 0.001), indicating a link between elevated CSF GAP-43 and cognitive impairment. In MCI group, CSF GAP-43 positively correlated with Aβ accumulation in all regions: Globally (β = 0.362, p < 0.001), frontal (β = 0.388, p < 0.001), temporal (β = 0.382, p < 0.001), and parietal lobes (β = 0.344, p < 0.001). In contrast, the AD dementia group exhibited negative correlations between CSF GAP-43 levels and Aβ accumulation, significantly in the frontal (β = - 0.513, p = 0.035) and parietal lobes (β = - 0.513, p = 0.035), suggesting a shift in the CSF GAP-43-Aβ relationship in AD dementia. Mediation analysis, adjusted for age, gender, education, and ApoE ɛ4 status, revealed that elevated CSF GAP-43 is linked to increased cognitive impairment via increasing Aβ accumulation solely in MCI, with significant effects in global (β = 0.0894, CI: [0.0427, 0.1457]), frontal (β = 0.0895, CI: [0.0422, 0.1443]), temporal (β = 0.0941, CI: [0.0466, 0.1522]), and parietal (β = 0.0499, CI: [0.0100, 0.0945]) regions. Thus, elevated CSF GAP-43 may contribute to cognitive impairment by promoting Aβ accumulation in individuals with MCI, while in AD dementia, it may be associated with reduced Aβ accumulation, potentially reflecting a compensatory or disease-stage-dependent effect. This dynamic relationship suggests that GAP-43 could play a dual role in neurodegeneration, influencing Aβ pathology differently across disease stages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mortaza Eivazi
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamide Nasiri
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Vahideh Tarhriz
- Cardiovascular Research Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Zahra Payandeh
- Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 41346, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Cheng Q, Fan Y, Zhang P, Liu H, Han J, Yu Q, Wang X, Wu S, Lu Z. Biomarkers of synaptic degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2025; 104:102642. [PMID: 39701184 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 12/13/2024] [Accepted: 12/14/2024] [Indexed: 12/21/2024]
Abstract
Synapse has been considered a critical neuronal structure in the procession of Alzheimer's disease (AD), attacked by two pathological molecule aggregates (amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau) in the brain, disturbing synaptic homeostasis before disease manifestation and subsequently causing synaptic degeneration. Recently, evidence has emerged indicating that soluble oligomeric amyloid-β (AβO) and tau exert direct toxicity on synapses, causing synaptic damage. Synaptic degeneration is closely linked to cognitive decline in AD, even in the asymptomatic stages of AD. Therefore, the identification of novel, specific, and sensitive biomarkers involved in synaptic degeneration holds significant promise for early diagnosis of AD, reducing synaptic degeneration and loss, and controlling the progression of AD. Currently, a range of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), such as synaptosome-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25), synaptotagmin-1, growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), and neurogranin (Ng), along with functional brain imaging techniques, can detect variations in synaptic density, offering high sensitivity and specificity for AD diagnosis. However, these methods face challenges, including invasiveness, high cost, and limited accessibility. In contrast, biomarkers found in blood or urine provide a minimally invasive, cost-effective, and more accessible alternative to traditional diagnostic methods. Notably, neuron-derived exosomes in blood, which contain synaptic proteins, show variations in concentration that can serve as indicators of synaptic injury, providing an additional, less invasive approach to AD diagnosis and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Cheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Yiou Fan
- Laboratory and Quality Management Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Shandong, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Jialin Han
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Qian Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Shuang Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Zhiming Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China.
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Liu Z, Shi D, Cai Y, Li A, Lan G, Sun P, Liu L, Zhu Y, Yang J, Zhou Y, Guo L, Zhang L, Deng S, Chen S, Yu X, Chen X, Zhao R, Wang Q, Ran P, Xu L, Zhou L, Sun K, Wang X, Peng Q, Han Y, Guo T. Pathophysiology characterization of Alzheimer's disease in South China's aging population: for the Greater-Bay-Area Healthy Aging Brain Study (GHABS). Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:84. [PMID: 38627753 PMCID: PMC11020808 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01458-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater-Bay-Area of South China has an 86 million population and faces a significant challenge of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the characteristics and prevalence of AD in this area are still unclear due to the rarely available community-based neuroimaging AD cohort. METHODS Following the standard protocols of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the Greater-Bay-Area Healthy Aging Brain Study (GHABS) was initiated in 2021. GHABS participants completed clinical assessments, plasma biomarkers, genotyping, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), β-amyloid (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and tau PET imaging. The GHABS cohort focuses on pathophysiology characterization and early AD detection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In this study, we analyzed plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 (A), p-Tau181 (T), neurofilament light, and GFAP by Simoa in 470 Chinese older adults, and 301, 195, and 70 had MRI, Aβ PET, and tau PET, respectively. Plasma biomarkers, Aβ PET, tau PET, hippocampal volume, and temporal-metaROI cortical thickness were compared between normal control (NC), subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia groups, controlling for age, sex, and APOE-ε4. The prevalence of plasma A/T profiles and Aβ PET positivity were also determined in different diagnostic groups. RESULTS The aims, study design, data collection, and potential applications of GHABS are summarized. SCD individuals had significantly higher plasma p-Tau181 and plasma GFAP than the NC individuals. MCI and dementia patients showed more abnormal changes in all the plasma and neuroimaging biomarkers than NC and SCD individuals. The frequencies of plasma A+/T+ (NC; 5.9%, SCD: 8.2%, MCI: 25.3%, dementia: 64.9%) and Aβ PET positivity (NC: 25.6%, SCD: 22.5%, MCI: 47.7%, dementia: 89.3%) were reported. DISCUSSION The GHABS cohort may provide helpful guidance toward designing standard AD community cohorts in South China. This study, for the first time, reported the pathophysiology characterization of plasma biomarkers, Aβ PET, tau PET, hippocampal atrophy, and AD-signature cortical thinning, as well as the prevalence of Aβ PET positivity in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China. These findings provide novel insights into understanding the characteristics of abnormal AD pathological changes in South China's older population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Dai Shi
- Neurology Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Yue Cai
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Anqi Li
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Guoyu Lan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Pan Sun
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Yalin Zhu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Yajing Zhou
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Lizhi Guo
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Laihong Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Shuqing Deng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Shuda Chen
- Neurology Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Xianfeng Yu
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Xuhui Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Ruiyue Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Qingyong Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Pengcheng Ran
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Linsen Xu
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518106, China
| | - Liemin Zhou
- Neurology Medicine Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Kun Sun
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Xinlu Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Qiyu Peng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Ying Han
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, 100053, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053, China
| | - Tengfei Guo
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, No.5 Kelian Road, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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