Role of APOE in dementia: A critical reappraisal.
The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is strongly associated to the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). More specifically, it seems undisputed that the APOE*4 allele plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. However, does this imply that it is ApoE4 which causes the increased susceptibility for AD? Empirical findings in non-Caucasians leave space for at least one alternative hypothesis: not the ApoE4 polymorphism but other defects in, or close to the APOE gene, could be responsible. We discuss this hypothesis, based on population and evolutionary genetic evidence.
de Knijff
P
P
MGC-Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
van Duijn
C M
CM
D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D011153:Population; D044469:Racial Groups
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E