Age at onset in two common neurodegenerative diseases is genetically controlled.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

To identify genes influencing age at onset (AAO) in two common neurodegenerative diseases, a genomic screen was performed for AAO in families with Alzheimer disease (AD; n=449) and Parkinson disease (PD; n=174). Heritabilities between 40%--60% were found in both the AD and PD data sets. For PD, significant evidence for linkage to AAO was found on chromosome 1p (LOD = 3.41). For AD, the AAO effect of APOE (LOD = 3.28) was confirmed. In addition, evidence for AAO linkage on chromosomes 6 and 10 was identified independently in both the AD and PD data sets. Subsequent unified analyses of these regions identified a single peak on chromosome 10q between D10S1239 and D10S1237, with a maximum LOD score of 2.62. These data suggest that a common gene affects AAO in these two common complex neurodegenerative diseases.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Li, Y-J; Scott, WK; Hedges, DJ; Zhang, F; Gaskell, PC; Nance, MA; Watts, RL; Hubble, JP; Koller, WC; Pahwa, R; Stern, MB; Hiner, BC; Jankovic, J; Allen, FA; Goetz, CG; Mastaglia, F; Stajich, JM; Gibson, RA; Middleton, LT; Saunders, AM; Scott, BL; Small, GW; Nicodemus, KK; Reed, AD; Schmechel, DE; Welsh-Bohmer, KA; Conneally, PM; Roses, AD; Gilbert, JR; Vance, JM; Haines, JL; Pericak-Vance, MA

Published Date

  • April 2002

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 70 / 4

Start / End Page

  • 985 - 993

PubMed ID

  • 11875758

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC379130

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0002-9297

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1086/339815

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States