The Interleukin-1A (IL-1A) -889C/T polymorphism has been reported to be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) susceptibility, but the results of these previous studies have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to explore whether the IL-1A -889C/T polymorphism confers susceptibility to AD. All studies published up to July 2011 on the association between the IL-1A -889C/T polymorphism and AD risk were identified by searching electronic databases PubMed, Embase and Alzgene. The association between the IL-1A -889C/T polymorphism and AD risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 32 case-control studies including 7,046 AD cases and 7,534 controls were eventually identified. Overall, positive associations of the IL-1A -889C/T polymorphism with AD risk were found in allele comparison T versus C (OR = 1.019, 95% CI= 1.027-1.198), recessive model TT versus CT + CC (OR = 1.278, 95% CI = 1.073-1.522) and dominant model TT + CT versus CC (OR = 1.102, 95% CI = 1.013-1.200). In subgroup analysis stratified by ethnicity, significant associations were demonstrated in Caucasians but not in Asians. In subgroup analysis according to the age of onset, no significant association was detected. The present meta-analysis suggests that the IL-1A is a candidate gene for AD susceptibility. The IL-1A -889C/T889C/T polymorphism may be a risk factor for AD in Caucasians. Further investigations taking the APOE ε4 status and other confirmed genetic factors and potential gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions into consideration for this polymorphism should be conducted.