SERUM APOLIPOPROTEIN-E LEVEL IS NOT INCREASED IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE -THE ROTTERDAM STUDY

The APOE4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. It has been suggested that levels of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in plasma are increased in Alzheimer's dis ease. In this population-based study, we found that serum apoE levels were lower in Alzheimer patients compared to non-demented controls (0. 75 mu mol/l (SD 0.35), vs. 0.83 mu mol/l (SD 0.40), P < 0.05). This fi nding is in accordance with lower serum apoE levels as observed in car riers of the APOE4 allele, who are over-represented in Alzheimer's di sease. After adjustment for age, sex, total protein, albumin level, bo dy mass index and the APOE genotype, the difference in serum apoE leve ls largely disappeared. Our population-based study suggests that the d ifferences in serum apoE level between Alzheimer patients and controls are mainly the result of differences in the distribution of the APOE genotype. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.