%0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2018 %T Frequency of Cardiovascular Genetic Risk Factors in a Calabrian Population and Their Effects on Dementia. %A Maletta, Raffaele %A Smirne, Nicoletta %A Bernardi, Livia %A Anfossi, Maria %A Gallo, Maura %A Conidi, Maria Elena %A Colao, Rosanna %A Puccio, Gianfranco %A Curcio, Sabrina A M %A Laganà, Valentina %A Frangipane, Francesca %A Cupidi, Chiara %A Mirabelli, Maria %A Vasso, Franca %A Torchia, Giusi %A Muraca, Maria G %A Di Lorenzo, Raffaele %A Rose, Giuseppina %A Montesanto, Alberto %A Passarino, Giuseppe %A Bruni, Amalia C %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Alzheimer Disease %K Apolipoprotein E4 %K Case-Control Studies %K Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins %K Cohort Studies %K Dementia, Vascular %K Female %K Frontotemporal Dementia %K Gene Frequency %K Humans %K Italy %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Polymorphism, Genetic %K Risk Factors %X

BACKGROUND: Several genetic variants playing a key role in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and vascular dysfunction influence the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). The many meta-analysis studies carried out on large numbers of samples in different populations have not provided clear results to date, because a trans-ethnic shift of risk genotypes in different populations is often observed.

OBJECTIVES: To determine genotypes allele frequencies of the polymorphisms most frequently identified to be correlated with cardio-cerebrovascular disease and AD in a Southern Italy population and to investigate their possible association with dementia.

METHODS: The genotype and allele frequencies of 13 cardio-cerebrovascular risk polymorphisms were assessed and their possible association with dementia was investigated in a case-control study, including 221 consecutive unrelated subjects diagnosed with dementia (120 subjects affected by AD, 55 by frontotemporal dementia, and 33 by vascular dementia) and 218 matched controls of Calabrian origin.

RESULTS: Carriers of at least one APOEɛ4 allele resulted to be at higher risk of AD [OR(95% CI) = 2.721(1.477-5.011)] and VaD [OR(95% CI) = 6.205(2.356-16.342)] compared to non-carriers. Individuals with the IV genotype of the CETP polymorphism were more likely to have AD [OR(95% CI) = 2.427(1.364-4.319)] and VaD [OR(95% CI) = 3.649(1.455-9.152)] compared to subjects with the II-VV genotypes.

CONCLUSION: CETP I405V polymorphism is likely a risk factor for AD and VaD in our cohort, independent of APOEɛ4 status. Unmodifiable genetic risk factors should be taken into account to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent dementia.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 61 %P 1179-1187 %8 2018 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29332048?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-170687 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T Genetic Counseling and Testing for Alzheimer's Disease and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: An Italian Consensus Protocol. %A Bocchetta, Martina %A Mega, Anna %A Bernardi, Livia %A Di Maria, Emilio %A Benussi, Luisa %A Binetti, Giuliano %A Borroni, Barbara %A Colao, Rosanna %A Di Fede, Giuseppe %A Fostinelli, Silvia %A Galimberti, Daniela %A Gennarelli, Massimo %A Ghidoni, Roberta %A Piaceri, Irene %A Pievani, Michela %A Porteri, Corinna %A Redaelli, Veronica %A Rossi, Giacomina %A Suardi, Silvia %A Babiloni, Claudio %A Scarpini, Elio %A Tagliavini, Fabrizio %A Padovani, Alessandro %A Nacmias, Benedetta %A Sorbi, Sandro %A Frisoni, Giovanni B %A Bruni, Amalia C %K Alzheimer Disease %K Amyloid beta-Peptides %K Consensus %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration %K Genetic Counseling %K Genetic Testing %K Humans %K Italy %K Male %K Peptide Fragments %K Psychiatric Status Rating Scales %X

BACKGROUND: Genetic testing of familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is attracting interest thanks to innovative primary prevention clinical trials and increased request for information by at-risk individuals. However, ethical, social, and psychological implications are paramount and genetic testing must be supported by structured genetic counseling. In Italy, practice parameters and guidelines for genetic counseling in dementia are not available.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a nationally harmonized protocol for genetic counseling and testing of familial AD and FTLD.

METHODS: Activities were carried out in the context of the Italian Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's and Frontotemporal Network (IT-DIAfN) project, a national network of centers of excellence with expertise in managing patients with familial AD and FTLD. A survey of the literature on genetic counseling protocols and guidelines was conducted. Local protocols for genetic counseling were surveyed. Differences and commonalities among protocols were identified and discussed among project partners. Consensus was reached following implicit aggregation methods.

RESULTS: Consensus was reached on a protocol for patients with clinically diagnosed familial AD or FTLD and a distinct protocol for their at-risk relatives. Genetic counseling should be provided by a multidisciplinary team including a geneticist, a neurologist/geriatrician, and a psychologist/psychiatrist, according to the following schedule: (i) initial consultation with tailored information on the genetics of the dementias; (ii) clinical, psychological, and cognitive assessment; if deemed appropriate (iii) genetic testing following a structured decision tree for gene mutation search; (iv) genetic testing result disclosure; (v) psychological support follow-up.

CONCLUSION: This genetic counseling protocol provides Italian centers with a line of shared practice for dealing with the requests for genetic testing for familial AD and FTLD from patients and at-risk relatives, who may also be eligible participants for novel prevention clinical trials.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 51 %P 277-91 %8 2016 %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26901402?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-150849 %0 Journal Article %J J Alzheimers Dis %D 2016 %T The Genetic Variability of UCP4 Affects the Individual Susceptibility to Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease and Modifies the Disease's Risk in APOE-ɛ4 Carriers. %A Montesanto, Alberto %A Crocco, Paolina %A Anfossi, Maria %A Smirne, Nicoletta %A Puccio, Gianfranco %A Colao, Rosanna %A Maletta, Raffaele %A Passarino, Giuseppe %A Bruni, Amalia C %A Rose, Giuseppina %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Alzheimer Disease %K Apolipoprotein E4 %K Female %K Genetic Association Studies %K Genotype %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Status Schedule %K Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins %K Neuroimaging %K Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide %X

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are a group of five mitochondrial inner membrane transporters with a tissue specific expression that uncouple biofuel oxidation from ATP synthesis and function as regulators of energy homeostasis and antioxidants. Previous data suggested that neuronal UCPs (UCP2, UCP4, and UCP5) can directly influence synaptic plasticity, neurotransmission, and neurodegenerative processes, and have a crucial role in the function and protection of the central nervous system. In fact, it has been observed that the expression of neuronal UCPs significantly decreases in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Here we analyzed the variability of UCP2, -3, -4, and 5 genes in sporadic and familial cases (n = 465) of late-onset AD (LOAD) with respect to healthy controls (n = 442). We showed that a genetic variant in the human UCP4, rs9472817, not only significantly affects the individual susceptibility to LOAD, but also modulates the effect of APOE-ɛ4 on AD risk. In fact, rs9472817-C allele was significantly more frequent in both groups of patients with respect to the control group (p = 6.934*10-4 for familial and p = 1.033*10-3 for sporadic cases). In addition, gene-gene interaction analysis revealed that the effect of APOE-ɛ4 allele on LOAD risk was doubled in homozygote CC subjects; conversely, the risk conferred by the APOE-ɛ4 allele was annulled in subjects with two copies of the G allele. Our findings are further evidence that the efficiency in mitochondrial energy metabolism and oxidative stress are important factors in AD pathogenesis.

%B J Alzheimers Dis %V 51 %P 1265-74 %8 2016 %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26923023?dopt=Abstract %R 10.3233/JAD-150993