Association of interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms with Alzheimer's disease

Interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) is markedly overexpressed in Alzheimer's disease. We found the IL‐1A 2,2 genotype in 12.9% of 232 neuropathologically confirmed Alzheimer's disease patients and 6.6% of 167 controls from four centers in the United Kingdom and United States (odds ratio, 3.0; controlled for age and for ApoE [apolipoprotein E] genotype). Homozygosity for both allele 2 of IL‐1A and allele 2 of IL‐1B conferred even greater risk (odds ratio, 10.8). IL‐1 genotypes may confer risk for Alzheimer's disease through IL‐1 overexpression and IL‐1–driven neurodegenerative cascades. Ann Neurol 2000;47:365–368