Childhood Trauma and APOEε4 Are Associated With Patterns of Developmental Frontal Alpha Connectivity, Posttraumatic Stress, and Alcohol‐Related Outc

ABSTRACT

Childhood trauma affects neurodevelopment and lifelong risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Changes in brain structures and function are observed in young carriers of APOEε4 , the genetic factor most associated with Alzheimer's disease. Longitudinal studies of APOEε4 , childhood trauma, and neural connectivity in adolescence have not been explored. We studied 837 trauma‐exposed participants (53% female) from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism prospective sample, using latent growth curve models to assess associations of childhood trauma and APOEε4 on repeated measures of frontal alpha EEG coherence (EEGc) throughout adolescence and young adulthood. Young adult AUD and PTSD symptoms were also examined. Results indicate childhood sexual assaultive trauma (CSAT) and APOEε4 are linked to neural connectivity, with effects differing by brain region and direction. CSAT was associated with a higher EEGc baseline but less growth in three EEGc pairs, while APOEε4 associated with lower left frontocentral (LFC) EEGc baseline and higher slope. EEGc patterns and symptoms of PTSD and AUD were robustly associated. A significant interaction between CSAT‐by‐ APOEε4 interaction also emerged, such that among APOEε4 carriers, childhood sexual assaultive trauma was associated with higher baseline PFI and diminished growth in PFI and LFC EEGc. No significant direct links between APOEε4 and PTSD or AUD were observed. Findings highlight how EEGc may help explain connections between genetics, trauma, and psychopathology, guiding at‐risk group identification and informing prevention strategies.