Genetic variation in apolipoprotein E alters regional gray matter volumes in remitted late-onset depression

Background olipoprotein E (ApoE) gene has been confirmed as the major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimerʹs disease (AD). The effect of ApoE polymorphism on brain morphology still remains unclear in remitted late-onset depression (RLOD). s l of 37 patients with remitted geriatric depression were investigated with optimized voxel-based morphometry. We tested for differences in gray matter volume between ApoE ε4 allele noncarriers (n = 25) and ApoE ε4 allele carriers (n = 12) in RLOD patients. s lumes of right medial frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus and left inferior occipital gyrus were significantly smaller in RLOD patients with ApoE ε4 allele carriers as compared to ApoE ε4 allele noncarriers. There was a significant positive correlation between gray matter volume of right medial frontal gyrus and Digit Span Test score in RLOD patients with ApoE ε4 allele carriers. tions tudy is cross-sectional, therefore it cannot determine whether abnormal gray matter volume is a state marker or trait marker of RLOD with ApoE ε4 allele carriers. sion ndings support the hypothesis that the ApoE genotype might be associated with structural changes in RLOD.