The deletion allele of the angiotensin I converting enzyme gene as a genetic susceptibility factor for cognitive impairment.
Experimental evidences suggest an implication of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) as a potential determinant of cognitive functions. To explore this hypothesis, we compared the distribution of an insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism of the gene coding for the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE), a key enzyme of the RAS, in 228 elderly with cognitive impairment to that of 255 controls. The ACE D allele frequency was higher in the group with cognitive impairment (0.594) than in controls (0.514) (P < 0.02). The ACE DD genotype carriers had an increased risk of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.60, 95% CI (1.04-2.36), P < 0.03), independent of other risk factors of cognitive impairment: age, gender and presence of the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele. This association was stronger in men (OR = 3.25, 95% CI (1.40-7.58), P < 0.006). This result suggests a possible implication of the RAS in human brain and cognitive functions.
Amouyel
P
P
Service d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, INSERM CJF 95-05, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France.
Richard
F
F
Cottel
D
D
Amant
C
C
Codron
V
V
Helbecque
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D004247:DNA; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A