A polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with Alzheimer's disease in patients lacking the Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele.
Because of its implication in neuroprotection, formation of long lasting memories and a disturbed function in Alzheimer's disease (AD), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may represent an appropriate candidate gene conferring risk to AD. Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism (C-270T) within the BDNF gene has been associated with late onset AD in a Japanese population giving an odds ratio (OR) of 3.8. Because of the importance of this finding we analysed the BDNF polymorphism in a German sample consisting of 210 patients with AD and 188 cognitively healthy controls. The T-allele frequency was higher in patients with AD (11.9%) compared to controls (6.9%) (P = 0.035; OR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.04-4.48). The risk conferred by the T-allele was stronger in patients who lack the ApoE epsilon4 allele giving an OR of 2.61 (1.21-5.64) P = 0.015, particularly in patients with early onset of the disease; OR 3.13 (1.32-7.43); P= 0.01. Due to the small number of patients showing both, lack of the ApoE epsilon4 allele and the BDNF T allele (n = 18), the result needs to be confirmed in a larger sample. The results suggest that the BDNF C-270T polymorphism is a relevant risk factor for AD particularly in patients lacking the ApoE epsilon4 allele in this German sample.
Neurochemistry and Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. m.riemenschneider@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
M
M
Riemenschneider
S
S
Schwarz
S
S
Wagenpfeil
J
J
Diehl
U
U
Müller
H
H
Förstl
A
A
Kurz
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor