Implication of a Genetic Variant at PICALM in Alzheimer's Disease Patients and Centenarians

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Piaceri, Irene^a | Bagnoli, Silvia^a | Lucenteforte, Ersilia^b | Mancuso, Michelangelo^c | Tedde, Andrea^a | Siciliano, Gabriele^c | Piacentini, Silvia^a | Bracco, Laura^a | Sorbi, Sandro^a | Nacmias, Benedetta^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence and Centro di Ricerca, Trasferimento e Alta Formazione DENOTHE, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, Firenze, Italy | [b] Department of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy | [c] Department of Neuroscience, Neurological Clinic, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Benedetta Nacmias, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy; Tel.: +39 055 4271379; Fax: +39 055 4271380; E-mail: nacmias@unifi.it.

Abstract: A common polymorphism (rs3851179) in the PICALM (phosphatidylinositol-binding clathrin assembly protein) gene has been recently associated with reduced risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). We analyzed the genotype and allele distributions of the PICALM polymorphism in 813 Italian subjects, including LOAD patients and centenarians. The segregation of the PICALM rs3851179 showed no statistically significant difference between LOAD cases and controls. The implication of a genetic variant at PICALM is confirmed for the first time, in centenarians, thus suggesting a possible role in longevity.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, apolipoprotein E, centenarian, genetic variation, PICALM

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2011-101791

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 409-413, 2011