Polymorphism in apoA1 Influences High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels but Is Not a Major Risk Factor of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) is the major apolipoprotein constituent of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and is involved in reverse cholesterol transport. Variation in the apoA1 gene might influence the function of the protein and, thus, brain cholesterol metabolism, leading to an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Aim: In the current report, we investigated the role of the functional apoA1 polymorphism (-75 G/A) as a genetic risk factor for AD in a Tunisian population.

-1154G/A and -2578C/A polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene in Tunisian Alzheimer patients in relation to beta-amyloid (1-42) and total tau protein.

Recent evidences indicate that polymorphisms within the promoter region of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene may elevate the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). To further investigate, we have analyzed association between promoter polymorphisms of the VEGF gene in 93 AD patients and age and sex matched 113 controls from Tunisian population. The distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of the VEGF (-2578C/A) and (-1154G/A) polymorphisms did not differ significantly between AD and control groups (p>0.

Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid tau/beta-amyloid(42) ratio as diagnostic markers for Alzheimer disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia. Currently, no definitive diagnostic test for AD exists. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of amyloid beta (Abeta1-42) peptides and total tau proteins (T-tau) may serve as biomarkers for AD.