Behavioral correlates of GABAergic disruption in Alzheimer's disease

• Published in: International psychogeriatrics 2007-02, Vol.19 (1), p.151-158
• Main Authors: Lanctôt, Krista L., Herrmann, Nathan, Rothenburg, Lana, Eryavec, Goran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Affect; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aggression - psychology; Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology; Alzheimer's disease; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology; Geriatric psychology; Geriatrics; Humans; Male; Mass Screening - methods; Medical sciences; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - metabolism; Mental Disorders - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Mini-Mental State Examination; Mood disorders; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests; Organic mental disorders. Neuropsychology; Prevalence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 1041-6102; 1741-203X
• DOI: 10.1017/S1041610206003899

Background: Losses of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been variably demonstrated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be related to the presence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in AD. Our objective was to assess the relationship between plasma GABA (pGABA) levels and specific BPSD in patients with severe AD. Methods: pGABA levels and BPSD were measured in 14 institutionalized AD patients (8M/6F, mean age ± S.D. = 85.6 ± 4.5 years) with severe cognitive impairment (Mini-mental State Examination score = 4.5 ± 4.6) and prominent behavioral disturbances (Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score = 33.4 ± 23.6). Results: pGABA was positively correlated with depression and apathy scores on the NPI and negatively correlated with age. Apathy and age were independent predictors of pGABA levels. Conclusions: The final stages of AD are associated with GABAergic changes, which may contribute to depression and apathy in AD.