Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Quantitative 3D In Silico Modeling (q3DISM) of Cerebral Amyloid-beta Phagocytosis in Rodent Models of Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: December 26, 2016
Alzheimer's Disease and Neurotransmission Gene Variants: Focus on Their Effects on Psychiatric Comorbidities and
Stefano Porcelli1, Marco Calabrò2, Concetta Crisafulli2
1Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, stefano.porcelli@yahoo.it.
Background:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder accounting for 60-70% of dementia cases. Genetic origin accounts for 49-79% of disease risk. This paper aims to investigate the association of 17 polymorphisms within 7 genes involved in neurotransmission (COMT, HTR2A, PPP3CC, RORA, SIGMAR1, SIRT1, and SORBS3) and AD.
Methods:
A Greek and an Italian sample were investigated, for a total of 156 AD subjects and 301 healthy controls. Exploratory analyses on psychosis and depression comorbidities were performed, as well as on other available clinical and serological parameters.
Results:
AD was associated with rs4680 within the COMT gene in the total sample. Trends of association were found in the 2 subsamples. Some nominal associations were found for the depressive phenotype. rs10997871 and rs10997875 within SIRT1 were nominally associated with depression in the total sample and in the Greek subsample. rs174696 within COMT was associated with depression comorbidity in the Italian subsample.
Discussion:
Our data support the role of COMT, and particularly of rs4680, in the pathogenesis of AD. Furthermore, the SIRT1 gene seems to modulate depressive symptomatology in the AD population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

