C677T methylentetrahydrofulate reductase and angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphisms in patients with Alzheimer's disease in Iranian population.

In recent years numerous data suggest that vascular risk factors may be play a role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To determine the association of AD with methylentetrahydrofulate reductase (MTHFR) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) as two main vascular risk factors, we examined MTHFR C677T and ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism in 117 late-onset AD cases and 125 controls. We found no difference in ACE I/D genotype distribution between AD cases and control (P > 0.05) but there was a significant association between AD and the common MTHFR polymorphism C677T. The T allele conferred an increased risk of AD compared to carrying a C allele (P = 0.001, OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.3-2.09). Our result suggests a significant increase in risk of AD in cases with the MTHFR T allele, atleast in the Iranian population.