Several previous association studies conducted in Caucasian and Asian populations have shown contradictory results regarding the role of APOE and ACE polymorphisms in human longevity. In addition to variations in genetic risks between populations, differences in the composition of younger and older subject samples (for example, presence of comorbidity) between studies may partially explain the variability in their results (2,7). A systematic review showed that the association of APOE with longevity is dependent on the frequency of APOE4 in young subjects, being lower or nonsignificant in samples with a low APOE4 frequency (21,22). These observations and the low frequency of APOE4 in our young population (9%) may explain our current findings of a lack of association with APOE4. 

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by a grant from DIB-UNAL (822002) and COLCIENCIAS (11010416404). The authors thank Dr. Jorge Lopez and members of Beneficencia of Cundinamarca for their help in recruiting older subjects.

References:

1. Evert J, Lawler E, Bogan H, Perls T. Morbidity profiles of centenarians: survivors, delayers, and escapers. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Sci 2003; 58: 232–7.
2. Perls T, Terry D. Genetics of exceptional longevity. Exp Gerontol 2003; 38: 725–30.
3. Lee JH, Flaquer A, Costa R, Andrews H, Cross P, Lantigua R, et alArboleda GH, Yunis JJ, Pardo R, Gomez CM, Hedmont D, Arango G, et al. Apolipoprotein E genotyping in a sample of Colombian patients with Alzheimer's disease. Neuroscience Letters ;  :
Camelo D, Arboleda G, Yunis JJ, Pardo R, Arango G, Solano E, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme and alpha-macroglobulin gene polymorphisms are not associated with Alzheimer's disease in Colombian patients. Journal of Neurological Sciences ;  :
Pritchard JK, Stephens M, Donnelly P. Inference of population structure using multilocus genotype data. Genetics ;  :
E.C.L.A.C. (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean). Latin America: Life Tables (available at: http://www.eclac.cl) 
Yunis JJ, Garcia O, Cuervo AG, Guio E, Pineda CR, Yunis EJ. Population data for PowerPlex in thirteen departments and the capital city of Colombia. Journal of Forensic Science ;  :
Lewis SJ, Brunner EJ. Methodological problems in genetic association studies of longevity - the apolipoprotein E gene as an example. International Journal of Epidemiology ;  :
Stessman J, Maaravi Y, Hammerman-Rozenberg R, Cohen A, Nemanov L, Gritsenko I, et al. Candidate genes associated with ageing and life expectancy in the Jerusalem longitudinal study. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development ;  :
Schachter F, Faure-Delanef L, Guenot F, Rouger H, Froguel P, Lesueur-Ginot L, et al. Genetic associations with human longevity at the APOE and ACE loci. Nature Genetics ;  :
Agerholm-Larsen B, Nordestgaard BG, Steffensen R, Sorensen TI, Jensen G, Tybjaerg-Hansen A. ACE gene polymorphism: ischemic heart disease and longevity in 9000 individuals. A case-referent and retrospective cohort study based on the Copenhagen City Heart Study. Circulation ;  :
Galinsky D, Tysoe C, Brayne CE, Easton DF, Huppert FA, Dening TR, et al. Analysis of the apoE/apoC-I, angiotensin converting enzyme and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genes as candidates affecting human longevity. Atherosclerosis ;  :
Faure-Delanef L, Baudin B, Beneteau-Burnat B, Beaudoin JC, Giboudeau J, Cohen D. Plasma concentration, kinetic constants, and gene polymorphism of angiotensin I-converting enzyme in centenarians. Clinical Chemistry ;  :
Bladbjerg EM, Andersen-Ranberg K, de Maat MP, Kristensen SR, Jeune B, Gram J, et al. Longevity is independent of common variations in genes associated with cardiovascular risk. Thrombosis and Haemostasis ;  :