Lack of an association between apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 and Alzheimer's disease in elderly Nigerians

• Published in: Annals of neurology Vol. 38; no. 3; p. 463
• Main Authors: Osuntokun, B O, Sahota, A, Ogunniyi, A O, Gureje, O, Baiyewu, O, Adeyinka, A, Oluwole, S O, Komolafe, O, Hall, K S, Unverzagt, F W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-1995
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alleles; Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Apolipoprotein E4; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Data Collection; Female; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Humans; Male; Nigeria; Nigeria
• ISSN: 0364-5134
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.410380319

As part of a community-based study of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in a Nigerian population aged 65 years and over, we have determined apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes on 56 subjects (39 controls and 17 subjects with dementia, including 12 with AD). The epsilon 4 allele of APOE was not associated with AD or dementia in this community-based sample. The epsilon 4 allele frequency was 17.6% in demented patients and 16.7% in AD patients compared with 20.5% in the control subjects. These findings are in marked contrast to the strong association between the epsilon 4 allele and AD in our previously reported study with African Americans.