SNCA Gene Polymorphism may Contribute to an Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the association between α-synuclein (SNCA) polymorphisms and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The PCR-RFLP was applied to detect SNCA gene rs6532190, rs3775430, and rs10516846 polymorphisms in 98 AD patients and 105 healthy elderly.

The GG frequency of rs10516846 was evidently increased in AD group than control group (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in SNCA level between the AD and control groups (P < 0.01). In the AD group, the SNCA level in cerebrospinal fluid of GG (rs10516846) carriers was increased as compared with AA carriers (P < 0.05). The GG (rs10516846) frequency of the early-onset AD group is significantly higher than that of the late-onset AD group (P < 0.05). The frequency of rs3775430 GG was lower in the early-onset group than that in the late-onset group (0% vs. 16.7%). The SNCA level in cerebrospinal fluid of GG (rs10516846) carriers in the early-onset AD group is higher than that of AA carriers (P < 0.05).

SNCA gene polymorphism may be associated with an increased risk of AD and GG genotype of rs10516846 and elevated SNCA level in CSF may increase the risk of early-onset AD.