Gene dose of apolipoprotein E type 4 allele and the risk of Alzheimer's disease in late onset families.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

The apolipoprotein E type 4 allele (APOE-epsilon 4) is genetically associated with the common late onset familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Risk for AD increased from 20% to 90% and mean age at onset decreased from 84 to 68 years with increasing number of APOE-epsilon 4 alleles in 42 families with late onset AD. Thus APOE-epsilon 4 gene dose is a major risk factor for late onset AD and, in these families, homozygosity for APOE-epsilon 4 was virtually sufficient to cause AD by age 80.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Corder, EH; Saunders, AM; Strittmatter, WJ; Schmechel, DE; Gaskell, PC; Small, GW; Roses, AD; Haines, JL; Pericak-Vance, MA

Published Date

  • August 13, 1993

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 261 / 5123

Start / End Page

  • 921 - 923

PubMed ID

  • 8346443

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0036-8075

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1126/science.8346443

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States