Compositions and methods for assessing risk factors in Alzheimer's disease

摘要

The presence of a restriction site in the gene for apolipoprotein CI (APOCI) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The invention involves determining the presence of the restriction site in biological samples from patients suspected to be at risk for Alzheimer's disease. The presence of the restriction site indicates that the patient may be at higher risk for the disease; those who are heterozygotes may be at intermediate risk; while those lacking the site are at a lesser risk for the disease. PCR amplification and the use of improved oligonucleotide primers specific to the region surrounding the restriction site as well as digestion with the restriction enzyme may be used to determine the presence of the site. APOCI provides a genetic marker for Alzheimer's disease that is distinct from APOE4. The methods disclosed provide a more accurate and definitive screening technique for the early identification of Alzheimer's disease compared to screening of APOE4 alone in some populations.