Cathepsin D gene exon 2 polymorphism and sporadic Alzheimer's disease

It has recently been reported that a genetic polymorphism in exon 2 of the cathepsin D gene conferred increased risk for development of Alzheimer's di sease (AD). Because of the potential importance of this report we tested th is association in a clinically well-defined group of AD patients and age an d sex matched control subjects from the relatively genetically homogeneous Northern Ireland population. This study failed to confirm the reported asso ciation between the cathepsin D exon 2 polymorphism and AD. We conclude tha t if an association exists between this polymorphism and AD it is likely to be small. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.