Assessment of association between mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease in an older Korean population.
BACKGROUND
The mutant allele of mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2(*)2) was found to be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a Japanese sample, interacting with the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele (Apo E4).


OBJECTIVE
In a community Korean population we sought to investigate associations between ALDH2 genotypes and the following outcomes: cognitive impairment, previous cognitive decline, dementia and AD.


METHODS
Six hundred ninety community residents aged 65 or over were assessed for demographic characteristics, drinking behaviour, cognitive function, clinical diagnoses of dementia and AD, physical health status, and genotype (ALDH2 and Apo E).


RESULTS
There were no significant associations between the ALDH2(*)2 and any cognitive outcome, before or after adjustment for alcohol-related characteristics. These findings were consistent both in the non-drinkers and drinkers. Interaction between ALDH2 and Apo E was only found for one outcome (previous cognitive decline) at borderline levels of significance (P=0.058).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, these findings in a community population did not support a substantial role for ALDH2 genotype in the aetiology of dementia.
Kim
Jae-Min
JM
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Kwangju, South Korea.
Stewart
Robert
R
Shin
Il-Seon
IS
Jung
Jae-Sung
JS
Yoon
Jin-Sang
JS
D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000639:trends; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D000071396:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D000431:Ethanol; C096127:ALDH2 protein, human; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D000071396:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial; D000079:Acetaldehyde