The rare presence of frontal lobe characteristics was associated with a younger age of onset, an increased incidence of myoclonus at presentation, a positive family history but not with possession of APOE epsilon4 allele.
Because the decline in mental ability as well as the development of myoclonus and extrapyramidal signs are consistent manifestations of disease progression, our results imply that APOE epsilon4 is associated with a less aggressive form of AD.
We have studied the relationship between the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) and the development of myoclonus, tremors, rigidity and seizures in 168 patients with probable early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD).