Interactions between Apolipoprotein E and Apolipoprotein(a) in Patients with Late-Onset Alzheimer Disease

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], the distinctive, highly polymorphic glycoprotein of lipoprotein(a), shares a series of common features with apolipoprotein E (apoE), which is implicated in the development of Alzheimer disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether apo(a) is associated with Alzheimer disease. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: University hospitals in Europe. PARTICIPANTS: 285 patients with Alzheimer disease and 296 controls. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma lipoprotein(a) levels, size of the apo(a) isoforms, and apoE and apo(a) genotyping. RESULTS: Among carriers of the apoE epsilon4 allele, lipoprotein(a) was associated with a progressive, age-dependent increased risk for late-onset Alzheimer disease (odds ratio for patients >80 years of age, 6.0 [95% CI, 1.2 to 30.8]; P<0.01). Among noncarriers older than 80 years of age, lipoprotein(a) was associated with a reduced risk for Alzheimer disease (odds ratio, 0.4 [CI, 0.2 to 0.91; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this convenience sample, lipoprotein(a) was an additional risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer disease in carriers of the apoE epsilon4 allele. However, lipoprotein(a) may protect against late-onset Alzheimer disease in noncarriers.