Neurology®
The most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed Neurology journal
Quick Search
Advanced Search
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Correspondence:
Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Correspondence are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Steffens, D. C.
Right arrow Articles by Breitner, J. C. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Steffens, D. C.
Right arrow Articles by Breitner, J. C. S.
Neurology 2000;54:593
© 2000 American Academy of Neurology
Articles

APOE and AD concordance in twin pairs as predictors of AD in first-degree relatives

D. C. Steffens, MD, B. L. Plassman, PhD, M. J. Helms, BS, K. A. Welsh–Bohmer, PhD, T. T. Newman, BS and J. C. S. Breitner, MD, MPH

From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Drs. Steffens, Plassman, Welsh–Bohmer, and Breitner, and M. Helms and T. Newman) and the Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (Dr. Welsh–Bohmer), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; and the School of Public Health, Division of Mental Hygiene, Johns Hopkins University (Dr. Breitner), Baltimore, MD.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. David C. Steffens, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3903, Durham, NC 27710.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the independent effects of the APOE genotype (APOE) and concordance for AD in twin pairs on the occurrence of AD in first-degree relatives.

BACKGROUND: Studies of twins have been undertaken to investigate the influence of genes in a variety of conditions, including AD. A previous study, performed before reports linking APOE to AD, demonstrated an increase in AD among first-degree relatives of twins concordant for AD compared with relatives of discordant twins.

METHODS: In a sample of 94 twin pairs the authors examined the association between concordance for AD within the twin pair and family history of AD among first-degree relatives of twins. They then examined the extent to which the presence of the APOE {epsilon}4 allele in the twin pair explains the association between concordance for AD within the twin pair and family history of AD.

RESULTS: Concordance among twins was associated with increased risk of AD among relatives (logrank test, {chi}2 = 12.558; p = 0.0004), and the presence of at least one APOE {epsilon}4 allele in each member of the twin pair is also associated with increased risk of AD among family members (logrank test, {chi}2 = 7.712; p = 0.0055).

CONCLUSIONS: APOE genotype explains much but not all of the association between concordance among twins and increased familial risk of AD.

Key words: Apolipoprotein E—Twins—Family—AD




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch NeurolHome page
W. Huang, C. Qiu, E. von Strauss, B. Winblad, and L. Fratiglioni
APOE Genotype, Family History of Dementia, and Alzheimer Disease Risk: A 6-Year Follow-up Study
Arch Neurol, December 1, 2004; 61(12): 1930 - 1934.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]