Abstract
Psychotic symptoms are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and have a negative impact on quality of life. It is suggested that psychotic symptoms may be attributed to genetic risk factors which are revealed during neurodegeneration. CHRNA7, the gene for the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, has been associated with schizophrenia in linkage and association studies. Hence we investigated single SNPs and haplotypes in CHRNA7 in relation to AD with psychosis in a large, well-characterised and previously described cohort within the Northern Ireland population. A significant association between delusions and the T allele of rs6494223 (P = 0.014, OR = 1.63, CI = 1.22-2.17) was found. This suggests that the alpha 7 receptor may be a suitable target for the treatment of AD with psychosis.
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / metabolism
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Alzheimer Disease / complications*
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Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
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Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
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Brain Chemistry / genetics*
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Cohort Studies
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DNA Mutational Analysis
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Female
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Gene Frequency / genetics
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Genetic Markers / genetics
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
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Genetic Testing
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Genetic Variation / genetics
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Haplotypes
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
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Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics*
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Schizophrenia, Paranoid / genetics*
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Schizophrenia, Paranoid / metabolism
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Schizophrenia, Paranoid / physiopathology
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Synaptic Transmission / genetics
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alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Substances
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Chrna7 protein, human
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Genetic Markers
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Receptors, Nicotinic
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alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
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Acetylcholine