NO EFFECT OF THE ALPHA-1-ANTICHYMOTRYPSIN-A ALLELE IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

The apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-epsilon 4 allele is associated in a dose d ependent manner to an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. However, the ApoE-epsilon 4 allele effect does not account for all patients wi th Alzheimer's disease, and the existence of other genetic risk factor s has been postulated. Kamboh et al reported an association between Al zheimer's disease and the A allele of alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (Aact) gene, which was not confirmed in a larger series more recently analyse d. The ApoE and Aact genotypes were analysed in 314 patients with Alzh eimer's disease and 173 healthy controls, confirming the dose dependen t effect of the ApoE-epsilon 4 allele. Nevertheless, even using odds r atios adjusted for age and sex, there was no significant effect of the Aact genotype on Alzheimer's disease or on the ApoE-epsilon 4 allele associated risk for Alzheimer's disease.