title: CLU, CR1 and PICALM genes associate with Alzheimer's-related senile plaques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  APOE is the strongest risk gene for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) so far. Recent genome wide association studies found links for sporadic AD with CLU and CR1 involved in Aβ clearance, and PICALM affecting intracellular trafficking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the associations of senile plaques (SP) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) with the proposed risk genes and APOE, in the Tampere Autopsy Study (TASTY) series (603 cases), a sample of the general population (0 to 97 yrs), who died out-of-hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age and the APOEε4 allele associated strongly with all phenotypes of SP, as expected. In age and APOEε4 adjusted analyses, compared to the most common homozygous genotype, burnt out SP were more common among carriers of the C-allele of CLU, whereas the T-allele of PICALM and C-allele of CR1 were linked with lower SP coverage. We found no significant associations between any of the genetic variants and NFT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Marginal effects from CLU, CR1 and PICALM suggest that these genes have minimal effects on the development of AD lesions.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Medisiinarinkatu 3, 33014 Tampere, Finland. eloise.kok@uta.fi.
authors.forename: Eloise H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: Teemu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luoto
authors.forename: Satu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haikonen
authors.forename: Sirkka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goebeler
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haapasalo
authors.forename: Pekka J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Karhunen