Vascular risk factors, ApoE ϵ4 allele, and gender and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: perspectives on prevention

This review summarizes the main findings from our recent research within the prospective, population‐based study investigating midlife elevated blood pressure (BP) and cholesterol values as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) later in life. Furthermore, we present some new data on the gender‐related differences in the risk factor profiles for AD. Our results suggest that vascular risk factors are important for the development of AD in both genders, but some gender‐related differences in the risk factors profiles for AD may exist. Our findings also suggest that different environmental factors such as antihypertensive drug treatment may modify the effect of apolipoprotein E ϵ4 allele in the development of AD. These data emphasize the importance of effective primary prevention and early treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia as potential avenues for reducing the risk of AD. Drug Dev. Res. 56:85–94, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.