Alcohol dehydrogenase 2 variant is associated with cerebral infarction and lacunae.

The authors examined the association of the alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2) genotype with vascular events in community-dwelling Japanese (1,102 men/1,093 women). The allele ADH2*2 encodes an isozyme with a higher level of activity than ADH2*1. Here, the authors show that the ADH2*1 carriage is associated with high prevalence of cerebral infarction and lacunae in men. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that the risk of lacunae and cerebral infarction was increased by the ADH2*1 allele.