THE ABSENCE OF AN APOLIPOPROTEIN EPSILON-4 ALLELE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A MORE AGGRESSIVE FORM OF DISEASE,ALZHEIMERS

Citation
Y. Stern et al., THE ABSENCE OF AN APOLIPOPROTEIN EPSILON-4 ALLELE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A MORE AGGRESSIVE FORM OF DISEASE,ALZHEIMERS, Annals of neurology, 41(5), 1997, pp. 615-620
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Neurology",Neurosciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
03645134
Volume
41
Issue
5
Year of publication
1997
Pages
615 - 620
Database
ISI
SICI code
0364-5134(1997)41:5<615:TAOAAE>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
We investigated the relationship between APOE genotype and rate of dis ease progression and survival in 99 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) who were followed biannually for up to 6 years. Patients were stratified into two groups, those with and without at least one APOE epsilon 4 allele. The rate of decline in modified Mini-Mental Sta te Examination scores was slower, the presence of extrapyramidal signs was decreased, and the development of myoclonus occurred later among patients with APOE epsilon 4 alleles compared with patients with other genotypes. Compared with patients without an APOE epsilon 4 allele, t he risk of mortality was also decreased in patients with at least one epsilon 4 allele (RR = 0.38; CI = 0.17-0.84, p < 0.02). Because the de cline in mental ability as well as the development of myoclonus and ex trapyramidal signs are consistent manifestations of disease progressio n, our results imply that APOE epsilon 4 is associated with a less agg ressive form of AD.