Rate of progression of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease: effect of butyrylcholinesterase K gene variation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the K variant allele of butyrylcholinesterase have a slower rate of cognitive decline than those without the K variant allele of butyrylcholinesterase.


METHODS
The cognitive status of 339 community based subjects with AD was assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination at baseline and yearly over a three year follow up period. The rates of cognitive decline of subjects with and without the K variant allele were compared.


RESULTS
Presence of the K allele was associated with a slower average rate of cognitive decline in subjects with severe AD.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding is consistent with the suggestion that the K variant of butyrylcholinesterase has an important role in disease progression in AD, and this may have implications for treatment.
Holmes
C
C
University of Southampton, Clinical Neurosciences Research Division, Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Moorgreen Hospital, Botley Road, Southampton, UK. c.holmes@soton.ac.uk
Ballard
C
C
Lehmann
D
D
David Smith
A
A
Beaumont
H
H
Day
I N
IN
Nadeem Khan
M
M
Lovestone
S
S
McCulley
M
M
Morris
C M
CM
Munoz
D G
DG
O'Brien
K
K
Russ
C
C
Del Ser
T
T
Warden
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000235:genetics*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase