STUDY OBJECTIVE: Age, family history of dementia and the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Considering the strength of APOE-epsilon 4 as a genetic risk factor for AD, this factor might explain a large part of the association between AD and a family history of dementia. Therefore, in the general population, a higher frequency of dementia should be observed among parents of probands with at least one epsilon 4 allele than in parents of probands without this allele. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study investigated a sample of 1153 volunteers between 59 and 71 years old, genotyped for the APOE gene, all participating in the EVA study. Dementia in their parents was determined using a self reported questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS: The frequency of dementia in 2164 parents was examined and it was found that 245 were demented. The percentage of demented parents was 13.0% in the subgroup of parents of subjects having one or two epsilon 4 alleles and 10.8% in the other subgroup. The relative risk of dementia among parents according to the APOE-epsilon 4 status of probands, was calculated using a Cox model adjusted for the educational level of parents and their history of stroke: RR = 1.21 (95% CI 0.90, 1.63). CONCLUSION: This lack of association supports the observation that in the general population, APOE-epsilon 4 cannot explain a large part of family history of dementia.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Age, family history of dementia and the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Considering the strength of APOE-epsilon 4 as a genetic risk factor for AD, this factor might explain a large part of the association between AD and a family history of dementia. Therefore, in the general population, a higher frequency of dementia should be observed among parents of probands with at least one epsilon 4 allele than in parents of probands without this allele. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The study investigated a sample of 1153 volunteers between 59 and 71 years old, genotyped for the APOE gene, all participating in the EVA study. Dementia in their parents was determined using a self reported questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS: The frequency of dementia in 2164 parents was examined and it was found that 245 were demented. The percentage of demented parents was 13.0% in the subgroup of parents of subjects having one or two epsilon 4 alleles and 10.8% in the other subgroup. The relative risk of dementia among parents according to the APOE-epsilon 4 status of probands, was calculated using a Cox model adjusted for the educational level of parents and their history of stroke: RR = 1.21 (95% CI 0.90, 1.63). CONCLUSION: This lack of association supports the observation that in the general population, APOE-epsilon 4 cannot explain a large part of family history of dementia.
Authors: R Mayeux; Y Stern; R Ottman; T K Tatemichi; M X Tang; G Maestre; C Ngai; B Tycko; H Ginsberg Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 1993-11 Impact factor: 10.422
Authors: A Hofman; A Ott; M M Breteler; M L Bots; A J Slooter; F van Harskamp; C N van Duijn; C Van Broeckhoven; D E Grobbee Journal: Lancet Date: 1997-01-18 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: A Hofman; W A Rocca; C Brayne; M M Breteler; M Clarke; B Cooper; J R Copeland; J F Dartigues; A da Silva Droux; O Hagnell Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 1991-09 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: A M Saunders; W J Strittmatter; D Schmechel; P H George-Hyslop; M A Pericak-Vance; S H Joo; B L Rosi; J F Gusella; D R Crapper-MacLachlan; M J Alberts Journal: Neurology Date: 1993-08 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: W J Strittmatter; A M Saunders; D Schmechel; M Pericak-Vance; J Enghild; G S Salvesen; A D Roses Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 1993-03-01 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: M C Chartier-Harlin; M Parfitt; S Legrain; J Pérez-Tur; T Brousseau; A Evans; C Berr; O Vidal; P Roques; V Gourlet Journal: Hum Mol Genet Date: 1994-04 Impact factor: 6.150