Decreases in short term memory, IQ, and altered brain metabolic ratios in urban apolipoprotein ε4 children exposed to air pollution

Lilian Calderón-Garciduẽnas, Antonieta Mora-Tiscarẽno, Maricela Franco-Lira, Hongtu Zhu, Zhaohua Lu, Edelmira Solorio, Ricardo Torres-Jardón, Amedeo D'Angiulli

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Children's urban air pollution exposures result in systemic and brain inflammation and the early hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is the most prevalent genetic risk for AD. We assessed whether APOE in healthy children modulates cognition, olfaction, and metabolic brain indices. TheWechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test were administered to 50 Mexico City Metropolitan Area children (13.4±4.8 years, 28 APOE ε3 and 22 APOE ε4). N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), choline (Cho)/Cr, myo-inositol (mI)/Cr, and NAA/mI were calculated using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the white matter of the frontal and parietal lobes, hippocampus, and pons. APOE ε4 versus ε3 children had a reduced NAA/Cr ratio in the right frontal white matter and decrements on attention, short-term memory, and below-average scores in Verbal and Full Scale IQ (>10 points). APOE modulated the group effects between WISC-R and left frontal and parietal white matter, and hippocampus metabolites. Soap was the predominantly failed odor in urban children and, in APOE ε4 versus ε3 carriers, strongly correlated with left hippocampus mI/Cr ratio. APOE modulates responses to air pollution in the developing brain. APOE ε4 carriers could have a higher risk of developing early AD if they reside in a polluted environment. APOE, cognition, and olfaction testing and targeted magnetic resonance spectroscopy may contribute to the assessment of urban children and their results could provide new paths toward the unprecedented opportunity for early neuroprotection and AD prevention.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAlzheimer's Disease and Air Pollution
Subtitle of host publicationThe Development and Progression of a Fatal Disease from Childhood and the Opportunities for Early Prevention
PublisherIOS Press
Pages235-248
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9781643681597
ISBN (Print)9781643681580
DOIs
StatePublished - May 3 2021

Keywords

  • APOE
  • Air pollution
  • Children
  • Cognition
  • Frontal white matter
  • Hippocampus
  • Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Megacities
  • Neuroprotection
  • Olfaction
  • Particulate matter

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