title: Genetics of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Most patients do not have an obvious family history and are classified as sporadic. Genetic factors in early and late-onset Alzheimer's disease are now well documented. This paper reviews the known genetic loci associated with Alzheimer's disease with an emphasis on the role of apolipoprotein E in late-onset familial and sporadic disease. Apolipoprotein E allele 4 is a susceptibility gene that is found in approximately 50% of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Hypotheses about apolipoprotein E function that may lead to Alzheimer's disease are also discussed.
authors: Division of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Burke
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Roses
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E