Carriage of apoE epsilon 4 lowers the age of onset of Alzheimer's Disease in Northern Ireland

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder affecting those in mid to late adult life. Carriage of an apolipoprotein E (apoE) ep silon 4 allele has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of de veloping AD in numerous studies involving populations of various races and ethnic backgrounds. It has also been suggested that carriage of this allele reduces the age of onset of AD. To investigate this, we carried out a gene tic association study utilising 108 sporadic late-onset AD patients and age , sex and ethnically-matched controls from Northern Ireland. Findings of th is study verified the risk of AD associated with carriage of the apoE epsil on 4 allele in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001). Moreover, carriage of thi s allele was also shown to be associated with a lower age of onset of the d isease (p<0.015).