Max
08-15-2002, 09:43 AM
Genes, Diet May Conspire to Boost Alzheimer's Risk
Wed Aug 14, 5:36 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - High-calorie diets loaded with fats may spell trouble for people with a genetic predisposition for memory-robbing Alzheimer's disease ( news - web sites), the results of new study suggest.
Investigators at Columbia University in New York City report that people with apolipoprotein E e-4 (Apo e-4)--a genetic variant linked with Alzheimer's disease--who consume the most calories and fat are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with those consuming the least amount.
This is not true for those who do not carry Apo e-4. In those without Apo e-4, there was no link between fat, calories and memory loss, Dr. Jose A. Luchsinger and colleagues report in the August issue of the Archives of Neurology.
There are three different types of the apolipoprotein E gene (e-2, e-3 and e-4) and people generally have two copies of the gene--one inherited from each parent. Those with one or two copies of Apo e-4 have a substantially increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, though some individuals with the gene never develop the disease.
In the study, 980 people over the age of 65 who were free of dementia were followed for 4 years. During that time, the investigators kept track of daily dietary habits including intake of calories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
The team reports that 242 people were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the end of the study period. Overall, 28% of the group with Alzheimer's had one or two copies of the Apo e-4 gene. Those with Apo e-4 who consumed the most calories and the highest levels of fats had 2.3 times the risk of Alzheimer's compared with gene carriers eating the least calories and fat, according to the report.
Those with the highest intake consumed an average of 1870 calories per day compared with 758 calories per day in the lowest level of consumption, the report indicates.
Although previous studies have found a similar association between high-fat diets and Alzheimer's disease, the authors write that "the mechanisms underlying this interaction need further investigation."
However, they conclude that the current findings "suggest the possibility of modifying the risk of Alzheimer's disease with caloric restriction and low-fat diets in susceptible individuals."
SOURCE: Archives of Neurology 2002:59:1258-1263.
Wed Aug 14, 5:36 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - High-calorie diets loaded with fats may spell trouble for people with a genetic predisposition for memory-robbing Alzheimer's disease ( news - web sites), the results of new study suggest.
Investigators at Columbia University in New York City report that people with apolipoprotein E e-4 (Apo e-4)--a genetic variant linked with Alzheimer's disease--who consume the most calories and fat are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's compared with those consuming the least amount.
This is not true for those who do not carry Apo e-4. In those without Apo e-4, there was no link between fat, calories and memory loss, Dr. Jose A. Luchsinger and colleagues report in the August issue of the Archives of Neurology.
There are three different types of the apolipoprotein E gene (e-2, e-3 and e-4) and people generally have two copies of the gene--one inherited from each parent. Those with one or two copies of Apo e-4 have a substantially increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, though some individuals with the gene never develop the disease.
In the study, 980 people over the age of 65 who were free of dementia were followed for 4 years. During that time, the investigators kept track of daily dietary habits including intake of calories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
The team reports that 242 people were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the end of the study period. Overall, 28% of the group with Alzheimer's had one or two copies of the Apo e-4 gene. Those with Apo e-4 who consumed the most calories and the highest levels of fats had 2.3 times the risk of Alzheimer's compared with gene carriers eating the least calories and fat, according to the report.
Those with the highest intake consumed an average of 1870 calories per day compared with 758 calories per day in the lowest level of consumption, the report indicates.
Although previous studies have found a similar association between high-fat diets and Alzheimer's disease, the authors write that "the mechanisms underlying this interaction need further investigation."
However, they conclude that the current findings "suggest the possibility of modifying the risk of Alzheimer's disease with caloric restriction and low-fat diets in susceptible individuals."
SOURCE: Archives of Neurology 2002:59:1258-1263.