RISK-FACTORS FOR CLINICALLY DIAGNOSED ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Thirty-six cases of patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's dis ease (CDAD) were identified from the dementia clinic of the Burke Reha bilitation Center. Controls were identified from the rehabilitative un its of the same facility. Controls were matched for age within 5 years , sex, race, marital status, status at time of surrogate interview (ca se alive or dead), and the absence of dementia. Birth in an urban vers us a rural environment (OR = 16), childhood in an urban versus a rural environment (OR = 9.5), and adult life in an urban versus a rural env ironment (OR = 16) were associated with an increased risk to develop C DAD. The daily or weekly use of beef/pork (OR = 4) and saccharin (OR = 2.25) were associated with an increased risk to develop CDAD as was t he ownership of a pet rabbit (OR = 2). Further, a history of other can cers (OR = 3) in cases with CDAD was associated with an increased risk to develop CDAD. Type A personality characteristics were found to be associated with an increased risk ('ate fast' (OR = 3.5), 'not relaxed and easy-going' (OR = 2.25), 'always rushed' (OR = 2.00) to develop C DAD as was a history of depression (OR = 2). Due to the small sample s ize, statistically meaningful confidence intervals could not be calcul ated and our results must be confirmed in larger samples of case contr ol pairs.