Association of apolipoprotein E phenotypes with late onset Alzheimer's disease: population based study

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 309; no. 6955; pp. 636 - 638
• Main Authors: Kuusisto, J, Koivisto, K, Kervinen, K, Mykkanen, L, Helkala, E-L, Vanhanen, M, Hanninen, T, Pyorala, K, Kesaniemi, Y A, Riekkinen, P, Laasko, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 10.09.1994; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Aged; Alleles; Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology; Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Alzheimers disease; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary artery disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia; Dementia, Multi-Infarct - epidemiology; Dementia, Multi-Infarct - genetics; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Gene Frequency; Health risk assessment; Humans; Low density lipoprotein; Male; Men; Multi infarct dementia; Neurologic examination; Neurology; Odds Ratio; Older adults; Older people; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Population studies; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Random Allocation; Sex Distribution; Studies; Finland
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.309.6955.636

Abstract Objective: To determine the association between the e4 allele of apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer's disease in a randomly selected population sample. Design: Cross sectional population based study. Subjects: 980 people aged 69 to 78 (349 men, 631 women). Setting: Population of Kuopio, eastern Finland. Main outcome measures: Presence of e4 allele and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease by detailed neurological and neurophysiological evaluation. Results: 46 (4.7%) subjects were classified as having probable or possible Alzheimer's disease. The frequency of the apolipoprotein E e4 allele was 0.359 in patients with Alzheimer's disease and 0.165 in subjects without dementia (P<0.0001). The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease was 2.9% in subjects with no e4 alleles, 7.6% in subjects with one e4 allele, and 21.4% in subjects with two e4 alleles of apolipoprotein E. Conclusions: Allele e4 of apolipoprotein is associated with Alzheimer's disease in a dose-response fashion in a randomly selected elderly population.