Association of butyrylcholinesterase K variant with cholinesterase-positive neuritic plaques in the temporal cortex in late-onset Alzheimer's disease

D J Lehmann, Z Nagy, S Litchfield, M C Borja, A D Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In confirmed late-onset (>65 years) Alzheimer's disease, we found a greater load, both of overall neuritic plaques and of cholinesterase-positive neuritic plaques, in the temporal cortex of carriers of the butyrylcholinesterase K variant (BCHE-K) aged <80 years than of all other patients. The differences were most striking in the case of cholinesterase-positive neuritic plaques. Among BCHE-K carriers, densities of such plaques were over six times higher in patients <80 years at death than in those >80 years (P=0.01). Furthermore, in subjects <80 years, BCHE-K carriers had nearly six-fold greater densities of these plaques than non-carriers (P=0.009). We consider three potential explanations for these findings: that the K variant binds more readily to plaque constituents, that it promotes fibril formation or that it induces aberrant neurite growth.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)447-52
Number of pages6
JournalHuman Genetics
Volume106
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2000

Keywords

  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Butyrylcholinesterase
  • Humans
  • Plaque, Amyloid
  • Point Mutation
  • Temporal Lobe

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