Hippocampal subfields’ sex differences in EOAD

Background In healthy ageing, there is evidence of sex differences in vulnerability hippocampal subfields to volume loss. However, this has not been investigated early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (<65 years; EOAD). Method We included 106 subjects: 62 EOAD (A+T+N+, MMSE>15) and 44 controls (HC; A-T-N-) that underwent lumbar puncture for analysis AD biomarkers, 3T-MRI scan neuropsychological assessment. Hippocampal subfield segmentation was performed using T1-weighted images Freesurfer 6.0. Volume adjusted by intracranial volume. Adjusted linear models were used analyze between HC sexes. calculated Cohen’s d as a measure the effect size change sex, restricted HC. EOAD, we age education investigate association loss with 18 cognition z-scores. Results Bonferroni correction multiple comparisons. Result There no demographic across groups. APOEε4 carriers higher EOAD-female/EOAD-male than HC-female. EOAD-female showed T-Tau P-Tau levels EOAD-male (all p<0.05; Table1). Comparing vs. HC, found all hippocampus (p<0.05, corrected), except bilateral parasubiculum right cornu ammonis (CA) 2/3. No (p>0.05). When compared same regions whole sample, while tail left presubiculum p<0.05, corrected, Figure 1). observed larger sizes women these regions, (Figure 2). CA2/3 predicted memory z-scores, including free total learning delayed recall (p<0.05 corrected; 3). associations nor EOAD-male. Conclusion pattern similar females more marked from presubiculum. Further studies are necessary elucidate existence their implication cognitive impairment.