Abstract
Background-We previously demonstrated that parietal lobe white matter hyperintensities (WMH) increase risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we examined whether individuals with APOE*4have increased parietal WMH volume. Methods-Participants were from the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP; n=694, 47 with dementia) in northern Manhattan and the Etude Santé Psychologique Prévalence Risques et Traitement study (ESPRIT; n=539, 8 with dementia) in Montpellier. The association between regional WMH and APOE*4 was examined separately in each group and then in a combined analysis. Results-In WHICAP, ε4 carriers had higher WMH volume particularly in parietal and occipital lobes. In ESPRIT, ε4 carriers had elevated WMH particularly in parietal and temporal lobes. In the combined analysis, ε4 carriers had higher WMH in parietal and occipital lobes. Increased WMH volume was associated with increased frequency of dementia irrespective of APOE*4 status; those with the ε4 were more likely to have dementia if they also had increased parietal WMH. Conclusions-APOE*4 is associated with increased parietal lobe WMH.