title: APOE Genotype in the Ethnic Majority and Minority Groups of Laos and the Implications for Non-Communicable Diseases.
abstract: Increasing age is associated with elevated risk of non-communicable diseases, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is a risk factor not only for AD, but also for cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, stroke, hypertension, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) is undergoing development; consequently, life expectancy has risen. To evaluate the future risk of non-communicable diseases, we investigated APOE genotypes and anthropometric characteristics in the Laotian population.
  
  
  
  Subjects were 455 members of the Lao Loum majority and 354 members of ethnic minorities. APOE genotypes, anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, and blood glucose were recorded. To compare individual changes, health examination data collected 5 years apart were obtained from a subset of Lao Loum subjects. APOE ε4 allele frequencies were higher among minorities (31.3%) than among Lao Loum (12.6%). In Lao Loum, but not in minorities, mean waist circumference and blood pressure increased significantly across age groups. Comparisons of health conditions between the beginning and end of the 5-year period revealed significant increases in obesity and blood glucose levels in Lao Loum. APOE ε4 carriers exhibited significant increases in resting heart rate in both ethnic groups.
  
  
  
  A higher ε4 allele frequency was observed in Laotian minorities than in the Laotian majority. Furthermore, higher obesity, blood pressure and blood glucose were observed in the middle-aged ethnic majority. Therefore, given these genetic and non-communicable disease risk factors, it seems likely that as the Laotian population ages, elevated rates of non-communicable aging-related diseases, such as dementia, will also become more prevalent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Midorikawa
authors.affiliation: Mahosot Hospital, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Douangdao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soukaloun
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Kongsap
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akkhavong
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Bouavanh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Southivong
authors.affiliation: Mahosot Hospital, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Oudayvone
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rattanavong
authors.affiliation: Mahosot Hospital, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Vikham
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sengkhygnavong
authors.affiliation: Mahosot Hospital, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Amphay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pyaluanglath
authors.affiliation: Mahosot Hospital, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
authors.forename: Saymongkhonh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sayasithsena
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Public Health, Graduate School of Nursing Science and Faculty of Nursing, Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen University, Kure, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Suzuka, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Midorikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D004194:Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E