title: HLA-A2 homozygosity but not heterozygosity is associated with Alzheimer disease.
abstract: AD is associated with the A2 allele of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). However, it is not currently known whether there is any difference between A2 homozygotes and A2 heterozygotes. The authors studied 458 patients with AD and found that A2 homozygotes had earlier onset of AD than either A2 heterozygotes (5.4 years, p = 0.002) or those without A2 (5.2 years, p = 0.003). The "recessive" nature of this association suggests that loss of function at the HLA-A locus or a closely linked gene is associated with AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA. zarepars@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zareparsi
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Schellenberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Payami
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen