Differences in risk factors for dementia with neurodegenerative traits and for vascular dementia

In 229 patients with dementia and in 144 control subjects, polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E ( ApoE), low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor-related protein, alpha(2)-macroglobulin, interleukin (IL)1 beta, angiotensin-converting enzyme and of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genes were investigated. In plasma, antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae and lipids were determined. Dementia was classified as probable Alzheimer's disease ( AD), probable dementia of vascular origin (VaD) and mixed dementia ( MD). An association of the disease with ApoE and IL-1 beta polymorphism and increased levels of LDL cholesterol were observed in AD and in MD but not in VaD. Copyright (C) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.