The genetics of deliria

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Genetics
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Delirium, including non-alcohol related and alcohol withdrawal delirium, presents similarly and has adverse outcomes.
• Identifying genetic predispositions for delirium is a growing research focus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review genetic association studies on the occurrence and outcomes of delirium.
• To evaluate the current evidence for genetic factors influencing non-alcohol related delirium and alcohol withdrawal delirium.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of articles on genetic associations with delirium.
• Analysis of studies investigating specific genes (e.g., APOE, dopamine-related genes) in relation to delirium.

Main Results:

• Five studies on non-alcohol related delirium explored apolipoprotein E (APOE) associations, with some suggesting links to delirium emergence and duration.
• Twenty-seven studies on alcohol withdrawal delirium focused on dopamine-related genes (SLC6A3, DRD3), with mixed findings.
• Overall evidence is inconclusive due to small study sizes and methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

• Current genetic research on delirium lacks sufficient power and rigorous methodology.
• Further prospective studies with standardized criteria and long-term follow-up are necessary to establish genetic links to delirium.