Age-dependent association between butyrylcholinesterase K-variant and Alzheimer disease-related neuropathology in human brains

Neurosci Lett. 2002 Mar 1;320(1-2):25-8. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(02)00014-9.

Abstract

The association between the K-variant of the butyrylcholinesterase gene (BCHE-K) and Alzheimer disease (AD) or AD-related neuropathology has been reported to date with conflicting results. Here, we determined in a sample of 521 cases the severity of AD-related neuropathology and the polymorphisms of both BCHE-K and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Histopathologically, all brains were classified according to procedures permitting differentiation of the evolutionary stages of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and amyloid-beta-protein deposition (A beta-deposits). The results show that the association between BCHE-K and AD-related neuropathology only was limited to homozygotes for the K allele (P=0.036 for NFTs, and P=0.045 for A beta-deposits) at ages > or = 70 years but not 50-69 years. Furthermore, no interaction was apparent between BCHE-K and ApoE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging / genetics*
  • Aging / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / enzymology
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics*
  • Apolipoproteins E / metabolism
  • Butyrylcholinesterase / genetics*
  • Butyrylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / enzymology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genetic Testing
  • Genotype
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / genetics
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / pathology
  • Plaque, Amyloid / genetics
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Butyrylcholinesterase