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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Biomarker Identification for Gender Specificity of Alzheimer's Disease Based on the Glial Transcriptome Profiles
Published on: May 20, 2024
Gender, aggression and serotonergic function are associated with response to sertraline for behavioral disturbances
Krista L Lanctôt1, Nathan Herrmann, Robert van Reekum
1Psychopharmacology Research Program and Geriatric Psychiatry, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 207s Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada. krista.lanctot@swchsc.on.ca
Background:
Indications for serotonergic medications in the treatment of behavioral disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain to be established.
Method:
Sertraline (100 mg OD) was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study in 22 nondepressed patients with severe probable AD and significant behavioral disturbance. Each subject was given a fenfluramine challenge to evaluate central serotonergic tone.
Results:
Eight of 21 (38%) completers responded to sertraline. Drug responsive behaviors included aggression/agitation, irritability and aberrant motor behavior. Low aggression, female gender and large prolactin increase were associated with a better response. There was a trend for decreased aggression during sertraline versus placebo (p = 0.08).
Conclusion:
Aggression, gender and serotonergic function were associated with sertraline response. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the profile of responders.
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