Risk factors for Alzheimer dementia in a community-based birth cohort at the age of 75 years.
BACKGROUND
Few prospective community-based cohort studies have so far concentrated specifically on the risk factors for Alzheimer dementia (AD) with onset after the age of 75 years.


METHODS
We prospectively investigated a birth cohort of 585 nondemented inhabitants in the area on the East bank of the river Danube who were born between 1925 and 1926. They were investigated at the age of 75 years and followed up after 30 months. The follow-up was possible with 488 probands; 36 died, and 61 refused to participate.


RESULTS
In multivariate analysis an elevated risk for late-onset AD could be found for (1) history of depressive episodes (OR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.25-3.48); (2) the epsilon 4 allele of the APOE gene (OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.08-3.23); (3) lower serum level of folate (OR = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.87-0.98); (4) no chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.20-0.81), and (5) lower education (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.03-2.00).


CONCLUSIONS
Five risk factors for late-onset AD could be confirmed, which might be targets for preventive strategies.
Fischer
Peter
P
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Vienna, Austria. p.fischer@wienkav.at
Zehetmayer
Sonja
S
Jungwirth
Susanne
S
Weissgram
Silvia
S
Krampla
Wolfgang
W
Hinterberger
Margarete
M
Torma
Sabine
S
Rainer
Michael
M
Huber
Klaus
K
Hoenigschnabl
Selma
S
Gelpi
Ellen
E
Bauer
Kurt
K
Leitha
Thomas
T
Bauer
Peter
P
Tragl
Karl-Heinz
KH
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors