RISK-FACTORS FOR CLINICALLY DIAGNOSED ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Thirty-six cases of patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease (CDAD) were identified from the dementia clinic of the Burke Rehabilitation Center. Controls were identified from the rehabilitative units of the same facility. Controls were matched for age within 5 years, sex, race, marital status, status at time of surrogate interview (case alive or dead), and the absence of dementia. Birth in an urban versus a rural environment (OR = 16), childhood in an urban versus a rural environment (OR = 9.5), and adult life in an urban versus a rural environment (OR = 16) were associated with an increased risk to develop CDAD. The daily or weekly use of beef/pork (OR = 4) and saccharin (OR = 2.25) were associated with an increased risk to develop CDAD as was the ownership of a pet rabbit (OR = 2). Further, a history of other cancers (OR = 3) in cases with CDAD was associated with an increased risk to develop CDAD. Type A personality characteristics were found to be associated with an increased risk ('ate fast' (OR = 3.5), 'not relaxed and easy-going' (OR = 2.25), 'always rushed' (OR = 2.00) to develop CDAD as was a history of depression (OR = 2). Due to the small sample size, statistically meaningful confidence intervals could not be calculated and our results must be confirmed in larger samples of case control pairs.