Identification of Brain Networks Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

The brain connectome helds promise to detect subtle changes in individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease. We imaged using high resolution diffusion imaging 72 subjects enriched for the APOE4 genotype to reveal vulnerable networks associated with a composite AD risk factor including age, genotype, and sex. Sparse canonical correlation analysis (CCA) revealed a high weight associated with genotype, and subgraphs involving the cuneus, temporal, cingulate cortex, and cerebellum. Our results have identified structural brain networks and the associated weights for several risk factors for AD in preclinical stages.