Reconstruction of the assessment of behavioral and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer's disease patients using DNA methylation as an indicator

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07488
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: SHINAGAWA Shunichro 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (90459628)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小林 伸行 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (20385321)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: BPSD / 神経精神症状 / 認知症 / アルツハイマー病 / DNAメチル化 / 治療反応性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

BPSD in dementia is a burdensome symptom for patients and caregivers, but treatment responsiveness is difficult to predict. 31 patients who were hospitalized for 12 weeks were compared before and after treatment for BPSD. BPSD was classified into three clusters by principal component analysis: 1) psychosis/emotional symptoms, 2) behavioral/circadian rhythm symptoms, and 3) apathy/agitation symptoms. There was a significant correlation between behavioral and circadian rhythm symptom scores and treatment course, but no significant association with psychotropic medication, the severity of apathy worsened over time, and treatment responsiveness of BPSD differed significantly by symptom. The relationship between treatment responsiveness and the amount of DNA methylation at candidate sites is currently being analyzed and will be reported.

Free Research Field

老年精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現在は緊急性の判断、薬剤無効例、副作用の危険性などから、BPSDに薬物治療を選択すべかの判断が困難な場合が多い。治療対象として個々のBPSDの症候ではなく「バイオマーカーとしての DNAメチル化」を用いるという発想の転換により、血液を利用した簡便に実施可能な治療反応性マ ーカーが実現すれば、速やかで適正な治療法の選択が可能となる。臨床医の視点に立脚したものと して、患者のQOLの向上と介護負担の軽減に繋がり、社会的な意義は大きい。