Genetic variation in the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is associated with delusional symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.
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.
Carson
Robyn
R
Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, Whitla Medical Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK. robyn.carson@qub.ac.uk
Craig
David
D
Hart
Dominic
D
Todd
Stephen
S
McGuinness
Bernadette
B
Johnston
Janet A
JA
O'Neill
Francis A
FA
Ritchie
Craig W
CW
Passmore
A Peter
AP
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics*; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; D005819:Genetic Markers; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D000109:Acetylcholine