Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and risk of Alzheimer's disease in Koreans.
BACKGROUND
The association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c.677C>T (A222V) polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is controversial. The objectives of the study were to investigate the association between MTHFR c.677C>T polymorphism and AD in Korean elders and to the extent to which it is modified by the major components of one-carbon metabolism and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype.


METHODS
Seven hundred and thirty-two community residents aged 65 or over were clinically assessed for AD. Genotyping was performed for MTHFR c.677C>T and APOE; serum levels of folate, vitamin B(12), and homocysteine were assayed. Age, gender and education were included as covariates.


RESULTS
A trend of association between TT genotype of MTHFR c.677C>T and AD was found [adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.73 (0.80-3.74)]. The association was significant in the presence of below-median vitamin B(12) level [3.66 (1.14-11.71)] and in APOE e4 non-carriers [2.97 (1.00-8.55)] with significant interaction terms, and bordered on significance in the presence of above-median homocysteine level [2.73 (0.94-7.90)].


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest gene-environment and gene-gene interactions on the risk of AD in Koreans.
Kim
Jae-Min
JM
Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, Republic of Korea.
Stewart
Robert
R
Kim
Sung-Wan
SW
Yang
Su-Jin
SJ
Shin
Il-Seon
IS
Shin
Hee-Young
HY
Yoon
Jin-Sang
JS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000378:metabolism
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12