LACK OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN APOLIPOPROTEIN-E ALLELE EPSILON-4 AND SPORADIC ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a protein involved in the transport of lipids and a component of Alzheimer's disease (AD) plaques. There are three common alleles of the apoE gene, designated epsilon2, epsilon3 and epsilon4. An association between familial and sporadic AD and the epsilon4 allele was recently reported. We have investigated Swedish Alzheimer patients and controls. The epsilon4 allele frequency in familial and sporadic cases and in controls was 47, 22 and 18%, respectively. There was no significant difference between sporadic AD and controls but in familial cases the increased epsilon4 allele frequency previously reported was confirmed.