An evaluation of the impact of MAPT, SNCA and APOE on the burden of Alzheimer's and Lewy body pathology.

Purpose: The study investigates the effects of genetic factors on the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy body (LB) diseases, including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Methods: A multicentre autopsy series (762 brain samples) with AD, LB or vascular pathology was examined. The effects of the tau gene (MAPT) H1 haplotype, the H1 specific SNP rs242557, APOE and the α-synuclein gene (SNCA) 3'UTR SNP rs356165 on the burden of AD and LB pathology were assessed.