ALLELIC ASSOCIATION AT THE D14S43 LOCUS IN EARLY-ONSET ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

The D14S43 marker is closely linked to the major gene for early onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease on chromosome 14, Allelic frequencies at the D14S43 locus were compared in 113 familial and isolated cases of early onset Alzheimer's disease (<60 years of age at onset) (EOAD) and 109 unaffected individuals of the same geographic origin. Allele 7 was significantly (P = 0.033) more frequent in type 1 EOAD patients (13.2%), defined by the presence of at least another first degree relative with EOAD, than in controls (4.1%). Since an autosomal dominant gene is probably responsible for type 1 patients, allelic association may reflect linkage disequilibrium at the D14S43 locus. This would mean that some patients share a common ancestral mutation. However, since multiple tests were carried out, this result must be interpreted with caution, and needs confirmation in an independent sample. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.