Related Experiment Videos
[Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and Alzheimer disease]
J van der Weide1, L S Steijns, J L Teepen
1Klinisch Chemisch Laboratorium, Psychiatrisch Ziekenhuis Veldwijk, Ermelo.
Tijdschrift Voor Gerontologie En Geriatrie
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotyping can aid Alzheimer's disease risk assessment. The apoE-epsilon 4 allele is linked to increased Alzheimer's risk, while apoE-epsilon 3 is more common in those without the disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurogenetics
- Neuropathology
- Geriatric Medicine
Context:
- Current Alzheimer's disease diagnosis relies on clinical criteria, often lacking specificity.
- Neuropathological examination is definitive but post-mortem.
- A need exists for reliable, early diagnostic or risk assessment tools.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- To evaluate apoE genotyping as a supplementary diagnostic tool for AD risk assessment, particularly in geriatric patients.
Summary:
- A case-control study genotyped the apoE gene in 21 patients categorized neuropathologically as Alzheimer's-positive or Alzheimer's-negative.
- Results showed overrepresentation of the apoE-epsilon 4 allele in the Alzheimer's-positive group.
- The apoE-epsilon 3 allele was dominant in the Alzheimer's-negative group.
Impact:
- The apoE-epsilon 4 allele is identified as a significant biological risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease.
- ApoE genotyping offers a valuable supplementary tool for assessing Alzheimer's disease risk, especially in elderly patients with cognitive decline.