Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the hypotheses that APOE-epsilon4 allele may interact with blood pressure to affect Alzheimer's disease (AD) occurrence and that antihypertensive therapy could modify such an effect.

METHODS:

A dementia-free cohort of 966 community-dwelling persons aged 75 years and older in Stockholm, Sweden was followed to detect patients with AD using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition (DSM-III-R) diagnostic criteria. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for several potential confounders.

RESULTS:

During a 6-year follow-up period, AD was diagnosed in 204 persons. APOE-epsilon4 allele, high systolic pressure (> or = 140 mm Hg), and low diastolic pressure (<70 mm Hg) were associated with an increased risk of AD. APOE-epsilon4 allele combined with low diastolic pressure greatly increased the risk of AD independent of antihypertensive drug use. Antihypertensive therapy significantly reduced the risk of AD regardless of APOE-epsilon4 status and counteracted the combined risk effect of the epsilon4 allele with high systolic pressure on the disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

Elderly people with genetic susceptibility for Alzheimer's disease may experience a further increased disease risk if they have either high systolic pressure or low diastolic pressure. Antihypertensive therapy decreases the risk of Alzheimer's disease exerted by the APOE-epsilon4 allele.