HLA-A2, or a closely linked gene, confers susceptibility to early-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease in men.
There is a weak association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the histocompatibility antigen HLA-A2, suggesting that A2 has either a minor role in AD or a major role in a subtype of it. To test these alternatives, we studied 54 consecutively ascertained AD patients diagnosed by NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Patients had a higher frequency of A2 than control subjects, primarily due to the elevated frequency of this antigen in men with early onset of dementia (less than or equal to 60 years): 92% of early-onset men had A2 as compared with 44% of controls. This finding suggests that A2, or a closely linked gene, confers susceptibility to early-onset AD in men. Furthermore, A2 appears to be primarily associated with sporadic AD, rather than with the familial subtype.
Payami
H
H
Department of Medical Genetics, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098.
Kaye
J
J
Becker
W
W
Norman
D
D
Wetzsteon
P
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen