TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2008//
TI  - Investigation of the role of the dopamine transporter in susceptibility to behavioural and psychological symptoms of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease
JO  - Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders
A1  - Pritchard, Antonia L.
A1  - Pritchard, Colin W.
A1  - Bentham, Peter
A1  - Lendon, Corinne L.
SP  - 257
EP  - 260
VL  - 26
IS  - 3
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1420-8008
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000160958
ID  - ref1
ER  -