Association between autoimmune thyroid disease and familial Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease in Familial Alzheimer's Disease kindreds and to ascertain whether there is any evidence for genetic linkage between the two conditions.


METHODS
Retrospective study of Familial Alzheimer's Disease kindreds.


METHODS
Seventy affected and unaffected family members from 12 kindreds.


METHODS
Anti-thyroglobulin and anti-microsomal autoantibody status was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thyrotrophin levels were determined by an immunoradiometric assay.


RESULTS
Of the family members, 41.4% had evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease, with significant co-segregation between the presence of thyroid autoantibodies and the development of Alzheimer's disease (P less than 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates a very high prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease in Familial Alzheimer's Disease kindreds and suggests that a genetic factor contributing towards the development of autoimmune thyroid disease may be located on chromosome 21 within close proximity to the Familial Alzheimer's Disease gene.
Ewins
D L
DL
Department of Medicine, King's College School of Medicine, London, UK.
Rossor
M N
MN
Butler
J
J
Roques
P K
PK
Mullan
M J
MJ
McGregor
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics
D001323:Autoantibodies; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D013954:Thyroglobulin