Re: PMID: 10746597: APOE and the risk of PD with or without dementia in a population-based study

[Hans van der Genugten <genugten@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: Debra Maniscalco <loon3@xxxxxxxxx>
Aan: PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Datum: zondag 16 april 2000 6:10
Onderwerp: Re: PMID: 10746597: APOE and the risk of PD with or without
dementia in a population-based study


>> At the risk of sounding really dumb, could someone tell me what APOE is?
This articule looked very interesting, but I dont understand APOE. Thank
you.  Deb <<

Hi Deb,

APOE stands for "Apolipoprotein E" and is a gene. Mutations of the gene are
known to increase the risk of dementia. See following article.

========================

APOE Gene Related to Age at Diagnosis
October 13, 1998

Many previous studies have shown that a specific variation in the APOE gene
increases risk of Alzheimer's. The variation, known as e4, has also been
shown to lead to earlier development of the disease.

Now Johns Hopkins researchers have confirmed the latter finding. They
determined APOE status among 4,932 Alzheimer's sufferers, and discovered
that those with the highest-risk e4 form of the gene generally were
diagnosed at the youngest ages.

However, the researchers caution that having the e4 form of this gene does
not doom anyone to Alzheimer's. Only about half of those with the e4 variant
develop Alzheimer's at all, and most Alzheimer's experts discourage testing
for this gene variant as a mass screening tool because it is a poor
predictor of risk. APOE testing is currently reserved for those being
evaluated for suspected Alzheimer's, where it can help make the diagnosis.

Source: Medical Tribune

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