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.
Riemenschneider
M
M
Neurochemistry and Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany. m.riemenschneider@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
Schwarz
S
S
Wagenpfeil
S
S
Diehl
J
J
Müller
U
U
Förstl
H
H
Kurz
A
A
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