Evidence against association of the FE65 gene (APBB1) intron 13 polymorphism in Alzheimer's patients

A genetic polymorphism in intron 13 of the FE65 gene (APBB1) was reported t o be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our analyses of this polymor phism, both in a family-based or a case-control sample, fail to support the association between the FE65 intron 13 polymorphism and AD. We performed t he sibship disequilibrium test (SDT, P = 0.77)and the sib transmission/dise quilibrium test (Sib-TDT, P = 0.56) in a family-based study which included 526 subjects from 158 sibships. In addition, we compared the genotype and a llele frequencies of this biallelic polymorph ism in 311 AD patients to tho se of a control group consisting of 260 subjects and found no significant d ifference (chi (2), P = 0.847 and P = 0.586, respectively). Furthermore, ou r two-point linkage analysis in a family-based sample was in agreement with a genome wide scan for linkage to AD and showed no evidence for linkage to the short arm of chromosome 11 where the FE65 gene is located. We conclude that the association of the FE65 intron 13 polymorphism with AD, if any, i s smaller than previously reported. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.