Gender-specific association of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene withAlzheimer's disease

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that risk factors for vascular di sease are also risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The gene for the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) has recently been reported to be associ ated with risk for AD. We have investigated the possibility of such an asso ciation in 98 clinic-based and 73 community-based AD cases versus 175 commu nity-based controls and find a gender-specific association of ACE genotype with AD in the female clinic population. These data suggest that gender may interact with genetic factors to influence risk for AD. Gender-specific ri sk for AD has been previously reported, and a biological rationale for invo lvement of ACE in the AD process is supported by studies exploring the rela tionship between AD and vascular risk factors such as hypertension. However , the results may also be a consequence of the known anomalies that arise i n genetic association studies as a consequence of sample selection. (C) 200 0 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.