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Weight gain can be an adverse effect of antipsychotics and is an important factor for long-term health and treatment compliance. Many reports have shown that the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor may be related to eating behaviors or lipolytic activities, both associated with body weight change. We hypothesized that there might be a relationship between the alpha(2a)-adrenergic receptor -1,291 C/G polymorphism and olanzapine-induced weight gain. A group of 62 Korean schizophrenic patients participated in a study; weight and height measurements were obtained prior to starting olanzapine and measured again after long-term treatment. Genotyping for the -1291 C/G polymorphism was performed on all participants. Body weight changes from baseline to endpoint were significantly associated with genotypes (P = 0.028). The frequency of the G allele was significantly higher in subjects who had severe weight gain (defined as a more than 10% weight gain from baseline) compared to subjects who did not have extreme weight gain (less than 10% weight gain from baseline) (X(2) = 6.120, P = 0.013; OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.21-5.51). Therefore, the findings from this study support a relationship between the -1291 C/G polymorphism of the alpha(2a)-adrenergic receptor and weight gain in Korean schizophrenic patients receiving olanzapine treatment.

The present study suggests that serum IL-6 levels of patients with AD might be higher than those of subjects with MCI and healthy controls. Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels might be negatively correlated with cognitive function, and we suspect that serum IL-6 levels could be biomarkers for AD.

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The purpose of the present study was to determine if a 5-HT6 receptor polymorphism is associated with antidepressant treatment response in major depressive disorder (MDD). Ninety-one patients with MDD, compared with 127 normal control subjects, were evaluated after an 8-week treatment period. An association analysis revealed no differences in genotype and allele distribution between patients with MDD and normal control subjects. However, there were significant differences in the treatment response in some Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores (sleep, activity, somatic anxiety, and total) between genotypes. Moreover, the heterozygote group (CT genotype) had significantly better treatment response than the homozygote group (CC + TT genotypes), especially in the somatic-anxiety subcategory and the total score of HAM-D. These findings imply that a 5-HT6 receptor polymorphism (C267T) is associated with treatment response in MDD.

PurposeHomocysteine has been associated with cognitive impairment and various psychiatric symptoms. This study was designed to clarify whether a relationship exists between the serum levels of homocysteine and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.MethodsPatients with Alzheimer’s disease (n=77) and control subjects (n=37) were included in this study. History taking, physical examination, and cognitive assessment were carried out as part of the investigation for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Global Deterioration Scale, Clinical Dementia Rating, and the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory were applied to all patients. The patients’ serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels were measured.ResultsPatients with Alzheimer’s disease had statistically significantly lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores and higher serum homocysteine levels compared to the control subjects. Mean serum folate and vitamin B12 concentration were significantly lower in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared to control subjects. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the serum homocysteine levels and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory subdomains, including delusion, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, elation/euphoria, apathy/indifference, and disinhibition. No statistically significant correlation was found between the serum homocysteine concentration and the Mini-Mental State Examination, Global Deterioration Scale, or Clinical Dementia Rating.ConclusionAssociations between the serum homocysteine levels and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia were observed, raising the possibility of an etiological role. However, the correlations between the folate or vitamin B12 levels and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores were not significant. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these findings remain to be elucidated. This was a cross-sectional study and the findings should be confirmed by repetitive, prospective longitudinal studies in a larger group of patients with neurodegenerative disorders.

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ObjectiveDepressive symptoms are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and they might influence the course and prognosis of AD. Depression could appear anytime in the course of the disease, and could either last considerably long or disappear easily. This study is intended to investigate the occurrence of depression in the course of AD and the risk factors of incidence.MethodsThis study targeted 1,272 AD patients without depressive symptoms at the start of this study in Korea. A total of 775 subjects completed the study, and the occurrence of depression was assessed after 12 months. Demographic information of subjects was collected and cognitive functions, overall functions, and depression severity were assessed at the start of this study and after 12 months.ResultsAmong the 775 subjects, 103 subjects (13.29%) developed depression 12 months later. The MMSE-KC scores showed significant changes in both groups that developed depression and did not. In the univariate analysis, significant differences in the incidence of depression were found in terms of gender, the administration of the antidepressant at the baseline, the SGDS-K score, and the GDS score. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in the incidence of depression was associated with a female, in the increase in SGDS-K score and the GDS score.ConclusionThe incidence of depression in the subjects who completed the 12-month follow-up observation was 13.29%. Moreover, in the multivariate analysis, a female gender and the severity of dementia, including the overall functions, seemed associated with the occurrence of depression.