Genetics of Alzheimer's disease in Caribbean Hispanic and African American populations.

ABSTRACT: Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), which is characterized by progressive deterioration in cognition, function, and behavior, is the most common cause of dementia and the sixth leading cause of all deaths, placing a considerable burden on Western societies. Most studies aiming to identify genetic susceptibility factors for LOAD have focused on non-Hispanic white populations. This is, in part related to differences in linkage disequilibrium and allele frequencies between ethnic groups that could lead to confounding. However, in addition, non-Hispanic white populations are simply more widely studied. As a consequence, minorities are genetically underrepresented despite the fact that in several minority populations living in the same community as whites (including African American and Cari

SUBMITTER: Reitz C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3902050 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature