Inflammatory genes are known to only show in African Americans and non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of this study was to observe the correlation from the obtained data of the prevalence of the APOE ε4 genotype. We examined cerebral free-water, a marker of neuroinflammation, hippocampal volume, and volume of white-matter hyperintensities in African Americans (AA) and non-Hispanic Whites who were categorized in groups based on whether they had APOE ε4 allele or not. AA had lower prevalence of APOE e4 genotype than non-Hispanic Whites. AA groups have a slightly higher hippocampal volume compared to the Non-Hispanic White (NHW) groups. African Americans also reported increased white-matter hyperintensities and cerebral free-water. Hippocampal atrophy is associated with Alzheimer's disease, this might suggest that the AA groups have a lower risk of Alzheimer's, although further research is needed to confirm this relationship. Lastly, our findings also suggest other potential socioeconomic factors that could contribute to increased incidence of dementia among AA and potential resilience factors early in the course of Alzheimer’s disease process.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTLD) are types of dementia that have distinct differences. To help identify some of the neural differences, researchers use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques to assist with diagnosing patients and track progression over time. The major objective of this experiment was to use the advanced diffusion tensor imaging techniques of Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Free water (FW) to help differentiate between AD and FTLD neurodegeneration. The scope of this experiment was to examine literature research on AD and FTLD by gathering the mean values of (FA) and (FW) to identify diffusivity susceptibility in the specific brain regions of the Uncinate Fasciculus (UF) and the Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG). The methods used were the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and the Frontotemporal Lobe Degenerative Neuroimaging Initiative (FTLD): These data repositories provide researchers with study data to define the progression of AD and FTLD. Next, an imaging analysis was used to calculate the average FA and FW through each slice of the brain regions UF and STG in standard space. Then FreeSurfer segmented Superior Temporal Gyrus and the JHU ICBM Atlas of the Uncinate Fasciculus were used as a set of tools for analysis and visualization of structural and functional brain imaging data for processing the cross-sectional and longitudinal data. We calculated 95% Confidence intervals for mean FW and FA at each slice and direction across 21 participants within each dementia group to determine regions of overlap and nonoverlap. Results indicated that for the FA and FW graphs in the x and z directions among UF and STG regions, there were more non-overlap regions between the AD and FTLD in the FW graphs across x and z-directions in particular the UF. Our results indicate that there may be concomitant decline in white and gray matter regions in dementia, and FW may be more sensitive detecting AD related neurodegeneration in the UF and STG regions.