Recent studies have provided evidence of association of apolipoprotein
E (ApoE) epsilon 4 allele and late onset familial and sporadic Alzhei
mer's disease (AD). Epidemiological studies have established allelic v
ariation at the ApoE locus. We have analyzed the ApoE gene polymorphis
m in a sample of 446 Italian subjects. Our data confirm a significant
association between epsilon 4 allele and sporadic AD. The frequency of
sit allele in early onset familial AD patients was comparable to cont
rol values suggesting that epsilon 4 allele does not represent a risk
factor for early onset familial AD (EOFAD). Moreover, we found a not p
reviously reported association between ApoE epsilon 2 allele and spora
dic AD and EOFAD.