In:
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Wiley, Vol. 777, No. 1 ( 1996-01), p. 255-259
Abstract:
All individuals with Down's syndrome (trisomy 21‐DS) develop the pathogenic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in old age (+40 years). 1‐4 The extent of pathology is variable, but it has been shown that the amount of β‐amyloid pathology is variable and related to age and the degree of dementia. 3 Thus, in DS, growing old is associated with a progressive pathological process which results in cognitive decline. However, neuropsychological studies of older DS subjects have identified a clinical dementia in only a proportion of cases. 1‐4 These contradictory observations could be reconciled if some factor existed which modulated the rate and amount of β‐amyloid pathology. Recent studies demonstrate an association between the apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) allele and the earlier age of onset in both sporadic 8‐9 and familial 10 AD. Increased amounts of βamyloid pathology can also be related to the E4 allele. However, at present there are no data documenting the effects of ApoE genotype on the expression or degree of clinical symptoms of the disease. We have examined the ApoE genotype in a cohort of clinically evaluated elderly patients with DS in order to examine the effects of ApoE genotype on the clinical symptoms of dementia. We report here that, despite the presence of an active disease process, the ApoE E2 allele is associated with longevity and preservation of cognitive functioning.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0077-8923
,
1749-6632
DOI:
10.1111/nyas.1996.777.issue-1
DOI:
10.1111/j.1749-6632.1996.tb34428.x
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
1996
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2834079-6
detail.hit.zdb_id:
211003-9
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2071584-5
SSG:
11
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