Psychiatric genetics
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Psychiatric genetics · Oct 2007
The association between delirium and the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele in the elderly.
As not all patients with similar risk factors and eliciting conditions develop delirium; it may be hypothesized that genetic variation may play a role in the risk of delirium. On the basis of the relationship between dementia, respectively reduced cholinergic activity, and the APOE epsilon4-allele, and the similarities between dementia and delirium in reduced cholinergic activity, the APOE epsilon4-allele is a rational candidate-gene for delirium. This study examined the association between APOE epsilon4-allele and delirium in elderly patients. ⋯ We found no convincing evidence that carriers of the APOE epsilon4-allele have a higher risk of delirium.