Is there any association between apolipoprotein E and angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism in patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia in Turkish Population?

The genetic factors which predispose individuals to dementia in old age hav e not been fully defined. The epsilon4 allele of the gene encoding apolipop rotein E (Apo E) is the only well replicated genetic risk factor for non-au tosomal dominant forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent reports indicate that the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Deletion (D) polymorphism is associated with a high risk for coronary heart disease and may effect longe vity/survival into old age. Since there is no study concerning polymorphism of the Apo E and ACE gene and dementia subtypes in Turkish population, we have examined the these polymorphism in patients with dementia and Parkinso n's disease, We determined the apo E and ACE genotypes for 21 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 45 patients with dementia and 29 age-matched healthy elderly controls in Turkish population. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), RFLP (Rest riction Fragment Length Polymorphism), and agarose gel electrophoresis tech niques were used to determine the apo E and ACE genotypes. The apo E epsilo n4 allele frequency was 0.047 for PD, 0.133 for dementia and 0.017 for cont rols. There was a significant association of Apo epsilon4 with dementia, bu t not with PD. And we found no association between ACE genotypes and dement ia and PD.