Risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease: a population-based, case-control study.
Our current knowledge of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease is limited and primarily addresses early-onset disease. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer's disease using a case-control approach. Ninety-eight cases and 216 controls were gathered from an ongoing population survey on aging and dementia in Stockholm (the Kungsholmen Project). We found a high relative risk (3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-5.7) with the presence of at least one first-degree relative affected by dementia. Among all the other risk factors, alcohol abuse (relative risk, 4.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-13.8) and manual work (relative risk for men of 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-25.5) emerged as positively associated. No clear association was found with a family history of Parkinson disease, advanced parental age at index delivery, season of birth, or previous head trauma. In conclusion, our data suggest that the main risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease is a family history of dementia, as has been previously reported for early-onset disease. Moreover, alcohol abuse and occupational exposure might play a specific role for this form of the disease.
Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Sweden.
L
L
Fratiglioni
A
A
Ahlbom
M
M
Viitanen
B
B
Winblad
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010331:Paternal Age; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology