The 5-HTTPR*S/*L polymorphism and aggressive behavior in Alzheimer disease.
BACKGROUND
Aggressive behavior in Alzheimer disease (AD) has been linked to dysfunction of serotonin neurotransmission. Homozygosity for the long variant (*L) of an identified biallelic polymorphism of the serotonin transporter promoter region (5-HTTPR) is associated with increased expression of the transporter protein and increased speed of response to serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the *L/*L genotype and the *L allele are associated with an increased risk of aggressive symptoms in patients with AD.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University hospital geriatric psychiatry inpatient program and Alzheimer disease research center.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients with AD with a history of aggressive behavior and 79 never-aggressive patients with AD with comparable severity of cognitive impairment.


METHODS
The 5-HTTPR genotype and allele frequency.


RESULTS
The *L/*L genotype was significantly associated with aggression in patients with AD (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.5). Similar results were obtained for *L allele frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
The 5-HTTPR*L allele and *L/*L genotype may predispose patients with AD to develop aggressive behavior.
Sukonick
D L
DL
Division of Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Pollock
B G
BG
Sweet
R A
RA
Mulsant
B H
BH
Rosen
J
J
Klunk
W E
WE
Kastango
K B
KB
DeKosky
S T
ST
Ferrell
R E
RE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins