Sun-Wung Hsieh, Ming-Wei Liu, Ling-Chun Huang, Meng-Ni Wu and Yuan-Han Yang* Pages 1269 - 1275 ( 7 )
<P>Background: The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) gene has drawn attention for its possible role in regulating the degradation of β-amyloid (Aβ), yet its role in affecting the cognitive and psychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer`s Disease (AD) patients has yet to be elucidated. </P><P> Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the ACE gene acts as a risk factor of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) in the AD population. </P><P> Methods: The genotyping of ACE and Apolipoprotein E gene with allele ε4(APOEε4) was determined among 360s clinically diagnosed AD patients. Symptoms and severity of BPSD were evaluated annually via Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). </P><P> Results: At the base measurement of the first year of patient recruitment, there were no significant contributory risk factors to NPI score. In the two-year follow-up, ACE insertion polymorphism showed a significant risk (adjusted odds ratio=1.65, 95% CI=1.1- 2.5, p=0.019) of progression of NPI total score. </P><P> Conclusion: ACE gene is involved in aggravating BPSD among AD patients.</P>
Alzheimer's disease, angiotensin-converting enzyme gene, apolipoprotein E gene, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, neuropsychiatric inventory, β-amyloid.
Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Department of Surgery, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung