Invited commentary: lipoproteins and dementia - is it the apolipoprotein A-I?
Because of the aging of the population, dementia has become a major public health problem. There has been growing evidence for a possible association between lipids and dementia. A large body of literature has demonstrated multiple hypothesized biologic links between lipids and neurodegenerative or other biologic pathways connected to dementing processes. However, the epidemiologic associations have been conflicting: dyslipidemia at middle age, but not in later life, seems to be associated with higher dementia risk in some but not all studies. Results from the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study reported by Saczynski et al. (Am J Epidemiol 2007;165:985-92) suggest that lipoprotein constituents, such as apolipoprotein A-I, a major component of the high density lipoprotein, may be more informative in enlightening the association between lipids and dementia. In this commentary, the epidemiology and biology of apolipoprotein A-I in relation to dementia is reviewed.
Scarmeas
Nikolaos
N
Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. ns257@columbia.edu
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008074:Lipoproteins