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Abstract:
Abstract: The apolipoprotein E (apoE) E4 allele has been
identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent
research has demonstrated that E4 positive individuals have
deficits in the ability to identify and remember odors. The purpose
of the present study was to identify olfactory deficits in these
individuals using an objective measure: the olfactory event-related
potential (OERP). Olfactory and auditory ERPs were recorded at the
Fz, Cz, and Pz electrode sites, with amyl acetate and a 500 Hz tone
as the stimuli. A button press was used to elicit the P3 component
in all participants (E4 positive and negative: mean age 75.3).
Preliminary results suggest that E4 positive individuals have
longer latencies than E4 negative individuals in the sensory (N1,
P2, N2) and cognitive (P3) components of the olfactory (p <
.01), but not the auditory (p .10), ERP. These findings indicate
that E4 positive individuals demonstrate deficits in olfactory
information processing as measured by the OERP, which appear to be
modality-specific. This may prove useful in identifying early
deficits in individuals at risk for AD. Supported by NIH grant # DC
02064 to CM. We thank Dr. Leon Thal, UCSD ADRC, for genotyping, Dr.
Mark Bondi, Dr. Timothy Lander, Rose Calhoun and Melissa Sliger for
assistance, and Charlie D. Morgan for expertise in
olfactometry.
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