@article{ref1,
title="Investigation of the role of the dopamine transporter in susceptibility to behavioural and psychological symptoms of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease",
journal="Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders",
year="2008",
author="Pritchard, Antonia L. and Pritchard, Colin W. and Bentham, Peter and Lendon, Corinne L.",
volume="26",
number="3",
pages="257-260",
abstract="BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alzheimer's disease patients commonly suffer from behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD); a genetic component to the development of BPSD has been demonstrated. Genetic risk factors for other psychiatric disorders have been implicated in BPSD; however, this is the first known investigation of the dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene in BPSD. METHODS: Our large cohort of 395 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease was dichotomised into whether they had ever suffered from a given symptom over the study period or not, based on longitudinal data using the BPSD (Neuropsychiatric Inventory). These measures were related to the DAT1 3'-untranslated region (UTR) variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism. RESULTS: Potential associations were revealed between the 9-repeat allele and presence of irritability and between the 10-repeat allele and aberrant motor behaviour (AMB); however, these do not remain significant after correction for multiple testing. No associations were observed with delusions, hallucinations, depression, agitation/aggression or elation. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the DAT1 3'-UTR VNTR could play a role in susceptibility to irritability and AMB. The findings presented here require replication in large well-characterised cohorts.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1420-8008",
doi="10.1159/000160958",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000160958"
}