International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 20, S21-S27, Copyright © 1991 by International Epidemiological Association
WA Rocca, CM van Duijn, D Clayton, V Chandra, L Fratiglioni, AB Graves, A Heyman, AF Jorm, E Kokmen and K Kondo
To investigate the possible association between Alzheimer's disease and
late maternal age at index birth, we conducted a collaborative re- analysis
of existing case-control data sets. Of the 11 studies participating in the
EURODEM project, four were included in the analyses regarding maternal age.
In all four studies, cases were matched to controls by age and gender, and
only population controls were considered. Analyses were conducted on the
individual data sets, on the pooled sample, and on subgroups defined by
gender, age at onset, and familial aggregation of dementia. Maternal age of
40 years and over was found to be suggestively associated with a higher
risk of Alzheimer's disease (overall relative risk = 1.7; 95% confidence
intervals: 1.0-2.9). In subgroup analyses, the association was
statistically significant for women and for sporadic cases. Adjustments for
education or analyses restricted to case-control pairs matched by type of
respondent did not modify these results noticeably. The association was
confirmed by a test of consistency with the Down's syndrome risk model;
results of this test were again more definite for sporadic Alzheimer's
disease. In addition, three of the four studies also suggested an increased
risk for maternal age at index birth between 15 and 19 years (overall
relative risk = 1.5; 95% confidence intervals: 0.8-3.0). Although
consistency across studies was not always complete, only some of the
increased relative risks reached statistical significance, and information
regarding maternal age obtained through a next-of-kin interview may have
limitations, our study suggests that both early and late maternal age
should be further investigated as possible risk factors for Alzheimer's
disease.
ARTICLES
Maternal age and Alzheimer's disease: a collaborative re-analysis of case-control studies. EURODEM Risk Factors Research Group
SMID Centre, Florence, Italy.
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