[Prevalence of APO e4 allele in Israeli ethnic groups].
The 4 allele of the APOE gene, coding for apo-lipoprotein E, is the most common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and a significant risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. There is therefore much interest in studying its frequency in different ethnic groups. We examined its frequency in Jews originating from Libya, Buchara and Ethiopia and in Jews of Sepharadi and Ashkenazi origins. Its frequency among Ethiopian immigrants was 0.27, significantly higher than in the other groups, in which the frequency was between 0.067 and 0.10. These differences in allele frequency may serve as a basis for future studies in Israel to assess the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the incidence of dementia.
Hilkevich
O
O
Neurology Dept., Tel Aviv Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
Chapman
J
J
Bone
B S
BS
Korczyn
A D
AD
D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E