Background: The ɛ4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is a well-characterized genetic risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD). The association between stroke and a higher risk for AD has also been reported. Our study sought to determine the relationship between the APOE gene and AD and the comorbid risk of stroke.
Methods: The subjects of this study consisted of 48 patients with AD and 48 members of a control group. All subjects were genotyped for APOE.
Results: The results clearly show a significant increased risk of AD in carriers of the APOE ε3/ε4 genotype (P = .003, odds ratio [OR] = 4.1) or ε4 allele (P = .001, OR = 4.2). The risk for stroke in AD patients was also increased for carriers of the APOE ε3/ε4 genotype (P = .02, OR = 9.0) and for carriers of the APOE ε4 allele (P = .004, OR = 5.5).
Conclusions: The present study is the first to establish a relationship between APOE ε4 and concomitant AD and stroke in the Tunisian population.
Keywords: Alzheimer disease; Apolipoprotein E; genotyping; risk factor; stroke.
Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.