Benedet AL, Moraes CF, Camargos EF, Oliveira LF, Souza VC, Lins TC, Henriques AD, Carmo DGS, Machado-Silva W, Araújo CN, Córdova C, Pereira RW, Nóbrega OT. Amerindian genetic ancestry protects against Alzheimer's disease.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2012;
33:311-7. [PMID:
22759767 DOI:
10.1159/000339672]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide, and bears remarkable evidence for a differential prevalence among continental populations. In this scenario, estimating ancestry proportions in recently admixed populations is a strategy that can help increasing knowledge about the genetic structure of this complex trait.
AIM/METHODS
Our purpose was to assess mean ancestry estimates for the three main parental contributors to the Brazilian contingent (European, African and Amerindian) using a panel of 12 ancestry informative markers. Outpatients with the late-onset form of AD (n = 120) were compared for ancestry levels with non-cognitively impaired subjects (n = 412) in the Midwest Brazil, controlling for classic clinical, social and anthropometric risk factors.
RESULTS
Our findings show a 3-fold greater genetic Amerindian content among control subjects compared to AD patients (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that the allelic architecture of Native Americans can confer protection against the onset of the disease.
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