Angiotensin I converting enzyme polymorphism in humans with age-associatedmemory impairment: relationship with cognitive performance

We compared the distribution of an insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism coding for the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) gene in 100 subjects f ulfilling NIMH criteria for Age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) and 124 controls. We found significantly reduced prevalences of the ACE I/I genoty pe together with increases of the ACE D allele in the AAMI group. We furthe r compared the neuropsychological performance of the AAMI group according t o their ACE genotype. Those AAMI subjects presenting the ACE I/I genotype e xhibited better performance on a measure of frontal robe function. Our resu lts suggest that the lack of the ACE I/I genotype and the presence of the A CE D allele are associated with memory impairment in the elderly. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.