The allele interaction between apolipoprotein epsilon2 and epsilon4 in Taiwanese Alzheimer's disease patients

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2005 Jan;111(1):38-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00394.x.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of the present of apolipoprotein epsilon (Apoepsilon) 2 on the relationship between Apoepsilon4 and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Method: We examined ApoE genotypes in 428 Taiwanese patients with AD and 807 controls; all participants were older than 65 years.

Results: The allele frequency of Apoepsilon4 was greater in AD patients than controls, but significantly lower than in Caucasians. The presence of an epsilon2 allele alone was not associated with lower risk for AD, but the presence of an epsilon2 allele was associated with an epsilon4 allele frequency similar to that of controls.

Conclusion: The low allele frequency of epsilon4 in persons with an epsilon2 allele suggests that this may be part of the protective effect of epsilon2 against AD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alleles*
  • Alzheimer Disease / ethnology
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Apolipoprotein E2
  • Apolipoprotein E4
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics*
  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Asian People / psychology
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Risk
  • Taiwan
  • White People / genetics
  • White People / psychology

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein E2
  • Apolipoprotein E4
  • Apolipoproteins E