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 have not been fully defined. The epsilon4 allele of the gene encoding apolipoprotein E (Apo E) is the only well replicated genetic risk factor for non-autosomal 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 longevity/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 Parkinson'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 (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism), and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were used to determine the apo E and ACE genotypes. The apo E epsilon4 allele frequency was 0.047 for PD, 0.133 for dementia and 0.017 for controls. There was a significant association of Apo epsilon4 with dementia, but not with PD. And we found no association between ACE genotypes and dementia and PD.