A REVIEW OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF APO-E GENOTYPES TO ALZHEIMERS-DISEASERISK AND METAANALYSIS OF APO-E ASSOCIATIONS WITH OTHER NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Since the initial discovery of an association between apo epsilon 4 an d Alzheimer's disease (AD), there has been a proliferation of studies which have attempted to replicate and refine these findings in familia l, sporadic, early- and late-onset AD. In addition, this gene has been examined in relation to many other neurodegenerative diseases. This r eview discusses the association of apo E and AD and considers the poss ibilities that the effects of apo E may be modified by age, sex and et hnicity. A meta-analysis of published data suggests that this locus is involved in Lewy body dementia and possibly Pick's disease. Apo E is unlikely to be a modifying factor in Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease motor n eurone disease and Parkinson's disease. However, further studies are n eeded to resolve the currently equivocal status of apo E in multi-infa rct dementia and schizophrenia. (C) 1997, Medikal Press.