East Asian-specific novel loci associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease: the GARD cohort Genome-wide study

The high genetic heritability of Alzheimer9s disease has contributed to the multi-directional and large-scale genomic studies to discover genetic factors, and so far many massive studies have been reported. However, the majority of genetic factors have been identified through European races, and relatively few studies using East Asians to discover genetic factors. In this study, East Asian specific loci is first reported through GWAS using GARD cohorts, which have been intensively recruited and managed by a single institution. ApoE-stratified GWAS with the AD cases and matched controls (n=2,291) in the Korean cohort and validation analysis using a Japanese sample (n=1,956) replicated six previously reported loci (genes) including ApoE and suggested two novel susceptible loci in LRIG1 and CACNA1A gene. This study demonstrates that discovery of AD-associated variants can be accomplished in ethnic groups of a more homogeneous genetic background using samples comprising fewer subjects.