APOLIPOPROTEIN-E GENOTYPES IN PARKINSON DISEASE WITH AND WITHOUT DEMENTIA

The apolipoprotein E gene (Ape E) type 4 allele is a genetic risk fact or influencing the development and age of onset of Alzheimer's disease . Because Parkinson's disease shares many characteristics of Alzheimer 's disease, we studied the frequencies of Apo E genotypes in a cohort of 52 Parkinson's disease patients with dementia and 61 patients witho ut dementia. Dementia was determined per National Institute of Neurolo gical and Communicative Disorders and Stroke criteria and Mattis Demen tia Rating Scale (DRS) < 126. Normal cognition was defined as DRS > 13 2. Apo E genotype and allele frequencies did not differ between dement ed and nondemented parkinsonian patients. Neither group's genotype and allele frequencies differed from that of a nondemented population of 78 controls. We conclude that the Apo E epsilon 4 allele influences ne ither the development of Parkinson's disease nor the dementia associat ed with Parkinson's disease.