title: Senile systemic amyloidosis affects 25% of the very aged and associates with genetic variation in alpha2-macroglobulin and tau: a population-based autopsy study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Senile systemic amyloidosis (SSA) is characterized by deposition of wild-type transthyretin (TTR)-based amyloid in parenchymal organs in elderly individuals. Previously, no population-based studies have been performed on SSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we have studied the prevalence and risk factors for SSA in a Finnish autopsied population aged 85 or over, as part of the population-based Vantaa 85+ Autopsy Study (n = 256). The diagnosis of SSA was based on histological examination of myocardial samples stained with Congo red and anti-TTR immunohistochemistry. The genotype frequencies of 20 polymorphisms in 9 genes in subjects with and without SSA were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of SSA was 25%. SSA was associated with age, myocardial infarctions, the G/G (Val/Val) genotype of the exon 24 polymorphism in the alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M), and the H2 haplotype of the tau gene (P-values 0.002, 0.004, 0.042, and 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This population-based study shows that SSA is very common in old individuals, affecting one-quarter of people aged over 85 years. Myocardial infarctions and variation in the genes for alpha2M and tau may be associated with SSA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. maarit.tanskanen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Maarit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanskanen
authors.forename: Terhi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peuralinna
authors.forename: Tuomo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Polvikoski
authors.forename: Irma-Leena
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Notkola
authors.forename: Raimo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sulkava
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiuru-Enari
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paetau
authors.forename: Pentti J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tienari
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Myllykangas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D001344:Autopsy; D003224:Congo Red; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000235:genetics*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C054369:MAPT protein, human; D011228:Prealbumin; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D016875:tau Proteins; D003224:Congo Red