Studies on the effect of the apolipoprotein E genotype on the lipid profile in Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: To determine whether Apolipoprotein E4 (Apo E4) gene status or ApoE gene dose affect the lipid profile in AD.

Background: Links between hypercholesterolemia and AD development continue to grow. Presently, limited information exists about the influence of the Apo E genotype on the lipid profile characteristics in AD.

Methods: We examined the lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lower-density lipoprotein (LDL), TC/HDL ratio, and triglyceride (TG) levels) of 142 subjects with probable or possible AD (mean age 76.5 +/- 8.9 years), not on lipid lowering therapy by Apo E genotype. Assessment was done by gene status and gene dose.

Results: ApoE4 gene status did not reveal any significant differences in the lipid profile except for LDL. However, significant differences were observed by ApoE gene dose.

Conclusion: ApoE gene status has minimal influence on the lipid panel or mean age in AD. Apo E gene dose does influence the lipid panel with Apo E 2/2, and 2/3 having significantly better lipid panels and older age of onset.