A polymorphism within intron 11 of the tau gene is not increased in frequency in patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease, nor does it influence the extent of tau pathology in the brain

There are numerous polymorph isms within the tau gene but these are incomplete linkage disequilibrium and exist as two common extended haplotypes H1 and H2. We have investigated the frequency of these haplotypes in 83 cases of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) using the +34 polymorphism in intron 11 of the tau gene as a marker of HI and H2 haplotypes. The total amount of hyperphosphorylated tau protein (tau load), present as neurofibrillary tangles, neuropil threads or plaque neurites, was quantified in the frontal cortex of these patients and related to tau haplotype. We found no increase in H1H1 haplotype in this autopsy population of cases with AD compared to published control data. Stratification of cases for apolipoprotein E (APO E) genotype showed a slight, but not statistically significant, overrepresentation of epsilon4 allele amongst bearers of H2 haplotype. There were no overall differences in tau load between haplotype groups though cases within each haplotype group bearing APO E epsilon4 allele had a significantly higher tau load than those without epsilon4 allele. Neither age at onset or duration of illness differed according to tau haplotype. We conclude that the frequency of tau gene H1 haplotype is not elevated in AD and possession of this has no impact upon the amount of tau pathology in AD. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.