White matter lesions in Alzheimer patients are influenced by apolipoprotein E genotype

To analyse the influence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype on the extent of white matter lesions (WMLs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), we examined 60 AD patients with magnetic resonance imaging. The WMLs were rated visually i n different brain regions. The patients with the APOE genotype epsilon 4/4 had more extensive WMLs in the deep white matter than patients with genotyp es epsilon 3/3 and epsilon 3/4. There was a correlation with age for WMLs i n the deep white matter in patients with the APOE epsilon 3/3 genotype. In patients carrying at least one epsilon 4 allele, the WMLs showed no age cor relation. The results could imply that in APOE allele epsilon 4 carriers, t he WMLs represent a pathological process related to the aetiology of the di sease.