ApoE and SNAP-25 polymorphisms predict the outcome of multidimensional stimulation therapy rehabilitation in Alzheimer's disease

Franca Rosa Guerini, Elisabetta Farina, Andrea Saul Costa, Francesca Baglio, Francesca Lea Saibene, Nicolò Margaritella, Elena Calabrese, Milena Zanzottera, Elisabetta Bolognesi, Raffaello Nemni, Mario Clerici

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. Rate of decline and functional restoration in AD greatly depend on the capacity for neural plasticity within residual neural tissues; this is at least partially influenced by polymorphisms in genes that determine neural plasticity, including Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) and synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25).

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether correlations could be detected between polymorphisms of ApoE4 and SNAP-25 and the outcome of a multidimensional rehabilitative approach, based on cognitive stimulation, behavioral, and functional therapy (multidimensional stimulation therapy [MST]).

METHODS: Fifty-eight individuals with mild-to-moderate AD underwent MST for 10 weeks. Neuro-psychological functional and behavioral evaluations were performed blindly by a neuropsychologist at baseline and after 10 weeks of therapy using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Functional Living Skill Assessment (FLSA), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) scales. Molecular genotyping of ApoE4 and SNAP-25 rs363050, rs363039, rs363043 was performed. Results were correlated with ΔMMSE, ΔNPI and ΔFLSA scores by multinomial logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Polymorphisms in both genes correlated with the outcome of MST for MMSE and NPI scores. Thus, higher overall MMSE scores after rehabilitation were detected in ApoE4 negative compared to ApoE4 positive patients, whereas the SNAP-25 rs363050(G) and rs363039(A) alleles correlated with significant improvements in behavioural parameters.

CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms in genes known to modulate neural plasticity might predict the outcome of a multistructured rehabilitation protocol in patients with AD. These data, although needing confirmation on larger case studies, could help optimizing the clinical management of individuals with AD, for example defining a more intensive treatment in those subjects with a lower likelihood of success.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)883-93
Number of pages11
JournalNeurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
Volume30
Issue number9
Early online date13 Apr 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2016

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Rehabiliation
  • SNAP-25
  • ApoE
  • Multidimentsional stimulation therapy

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