Age at onset in two common neurodegenerative diseases is genetically controlled.

Li, Yi-Ju; Scott, William K; Hedges, Dale J; Zhang, Fengyu; Gaskell, P Craig; Nance, Martha A; Watts, Ray L; Hubble, Jean P et al. · Am J Hum Genet · 2002

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

To identify genes influencing age at onset (AAO) in two common neurodegenerative diseases, a genomic screen was performed for AAO in families with Alzheimer disease (AD; n=449) and Parkinson disease (PD; n=174). Heritabilities between 40%--60% were found in both the AD and PD data sets. For PD, significant evidence for linkage to AAO was found on chromosome 1p (LOD = 3.41). For AD, the AAO effect of APOE (LOD = 3.28) was confirmed. In addition, evidence for AAO linkage on chromosomes 6 and 10 was identified independently in both the AD and PD data sets. Subsequent unified analyses of these regions identified a single peak on chromosome 10q between D10S1239 and D10S1237, with a maximum LOD score of 2.62. These data suggest that a common gene affects AAO in these two common complex neurodegenerative diseases.

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