Olfactory ERPs in an odor/visual congruency task differentiate ApoE ε4 carriers from non-carriers

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that impairs memory and semantic processing. AD patients and MCI patients at risk for AD show altered N400 ERP responses to incongruent visual and verbal stimuli. AD patients exhibit neuropathology in olfactory brain areas before cognitive symptoms, suggesting the potential for olfactory processing to reflect early pathology. Despite this, odor congruency has not been examined. We investigated odor–image congruency in older adults at genetic risk for AD. ApoE ε4 carriers and non-carriers were screened for anosmia, severe hyposmia, and dementia. Olfactory ERPs were measured 600–1300 ms following odor–image pairs. Odors were each presented once congruently and once incongruently via an olfactometer. Pz amplitude significantly decreased on incongruent trials in e4 carriers. Pz amplitude differences on congruous and incongruous trials were larger in non carriers. Regression indicated that congruency showed very high sensitivity and specificity for correctly classifying ε4 carriers from non-carriers.

► Olfactory ERPs in an odor/visual congruency task differentiated ApoE ε4 + and ApoE ε4 −.
► Pz amplitude significantly decreased on incongruent trials in non-carriers.
► Pz amplitude differences on congruous and incongruous trials larger in non carriers.
► High sensitivity and specificity for classifying ε4 carriers from non-carriers.