5-HT2AT102C receptor polymorphism and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease

Objective To investigate the association between 5-HT2A receptor polymorphism and neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms in Chinese elderly with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods This case-control study evaluated Chinese subjects with AD first presented to an university affiliated psycho-geriatric clinic. Eighty-seven subjects with NINCDS-ADRDA diagnosis for probable and possible AD were recruited consecutively from the psychogeriatric clinics of the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong. 5-HT2A receptor polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme digestion and gel electrophoresis. NP symptoms were assessed by the Chinese version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Results The genotype frequencies were significantly different in subjects with regards to the presentation of delusions, aggression, aberrant motor behavior and apathy (Pearson Chi Squares, p < 0.05). If only homozygote states were included, there were significantly fewer subjects of CC genotype with delusion (Pearson chi square, p < 0.05). Conclusions Specific NP symptoms in AD were significantly associated with 5-HT2A receptor polymorphisms. Possible ethnic differences in the behavioral expression of 5-HT2A receptor polymorphisms are worthy of further exploration. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.