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Apolipoprotein E4 allele in a population-based study of early-onset Alzheimer's disease
van Duijn CM, de Knijff P, Cruts M, Wehnert A, Havekes LM, Hofman A, Van Broeckhoven C.. Nature genetics, 1994-05-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Several studies have reported an association of the apolipoprotein E allele epsilon 4 (APOE*4) to familial and sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). Here we report on the relationship between APOE*4 and early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) in a Dutch population-based study. The frequency of the APOE*4 allele was 2.3 times higher among EOAD cases compared to controls.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
van Duijn, C. M., de Knijff, P., Cruts, M., Wehnert, A., Havekes, L. M., Hofman, A., et al. (1994). Apolipoprotein E4 allele in a population-based study of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Nature genetics. https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0594-74
Vancouver
van Duijn CM, de Knijff P, Cruts M, Wehnert A, Havekes LM, Hofman A, et al. Apolipoprotein E4 allele in a population-based study of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Nature genetics. 1994. doi:10.1038/ng0594-74. PMID: 8075646.
BibTeX
@article{vanduijn1994-8075646,
author = {van Duijn, C. M. and de Knijff, P. and Cruts, M. and Wehnert, A. and Havekes, L. M. and Hofman, A. and Van Broeckhoven, C.},
title = {{Apolipoprotein E4 allele in a population-based study of early-onset Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Nature genetics},
year = {1994},
doi = {10.1038/ng0594-74},
pmid = {8075646},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0594-74}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Here we report on the relationship between APOE*4 and early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) in a Dutch population-based study.
- The frequency of the APOE*4 allele was 2.3 times higher among EOAD cases compared to controls.
- Among patients, the allele frequency was 1.6 times higher in those with a positive family history than in those without.
- A significant increase in risk of EOAD was found for subjects homozygous for APOE*4 regardless of family history of dementia, but an increase in EOAD risk for APOE*4 heterozygotes could only be shown in subjects with a positive family history.
Why it matters
This population-based study found that the APOE*4 allele was more common in people with early-onset Alzheimer's disease than in controls, and that risk was especially increased in those who inherited two copies. It identifies a genetic risk factor only and does not provide a treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Nature genetics) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Nature Genetics: journal h-index 776 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1994 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 455 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.4 citations a year over 34 year(s) since 1994 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 28.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 28 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 10 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Christine Van Broeckhoven: h-index 140 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Erasmus MC: institution h-index 1,321 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 8075646) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
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