APOE epsilon 4 influences the manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down's syndrome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recent studies of the relationship between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down's syndrome have revealed inconsistent results.

AIMS:

To assess the role of the APOE gene in the manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down's syndrome.

METHOD:

We studied the APOE genotypes of 24 adults with dementia and 33 non-demented adults with Down's syndrome over 35 years of age, and an additional group of 164 non-learning disabled adults. We also carried out a meta-analysis of all previously published studies of association between APOE and Down's syndrome, incorporating the current data.

RESULTS:

We observed a non-significant excess of APOE epsilon 4 and a reduction of epsilon 2 in adults with dementia compared with non-demented adults with Down's syndrome in our sample. However, meta-analysis showed a significantly higher frequency of epsilon 4 in adults with dementia compared with non-demented adults with Down's syndrome (odds ratio = 2.02, 95% CI 1.33-3.07, P = 0.001), but no significant reduction in the frequency of epsilon 2.

CONCLUSIONS:

The APOE epsilon 4 allele acts as a risk factor for the age-specific manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down's syndrome.

• Authors: S Deb, J Braganza, N Norton, H Williams, P G Kehoe, J Williams, M J Owen
• Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (Br J Psychiatry) Vol. 176 Pg. 468-72 (May 2000) ISSN: 0007-1250 [Print] England
• PMID: 10912224 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoprotein E4
• Apolipoproteins E

Topics

• Adult
• Age of Onset
• Aged
• Alzheimer Disease (genetics)
• Apolipoprotein E4
• Apolipoproteins E (genetics)
• Cohort Studies
• Down Syndrome (genetics)
• Female
• Genotype
• Humans
• Male
• Meta-Analysis as Topic
• Middle Aged
• Risk Factors