• Principal Investigator: dr Łukasz Łaczmański, Wroclaw Medical University; The Faculty of Postgraduate Medical Training
  • Project title: Effect of gene polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the calcium receptor (CASR) in the AD.
  • Funding scheme: OPUS, NZ7

The clinical backgroundof the relationship between Alzheimer's Disease, homeostasis of calcium and vitamin D are presented in several works of reference. Alzheimer's disease, vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis often occur in one patient. Research suggests that vitamin D deficiency are much more frequent in patients with this disease. Osteoporosis also occurs more frequently in patients with Alzheimer's Disease than in the control group.
The information above lead to the conclusion that the intensification of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease may also underlie the functioning of receptors associated with calcium and vitamin D. Therefore, it seems reasonable to study the correlation of polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and calcium receptor (CASR) with symptoms of AD.
To that end, the selection of 100 patients from the Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University and a group of 100 healthy volunteers.
For the determination of polymorphisms planned to use minisequencing - technique that allows examination of genetic changes in the multiplex system (designation of a number of sites polymorphic in one reaction).
Vitamin D and calcium ions are involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease at multiple stages. Studies on the mechanisms and causes of Alzheimer's disease lasts for several years, however, the relationship between the homeostasis of calcium and vitamin D effects are a source of interest. However, there is less research on the polymorphism of genes involved in the homeostasis of calcium and vitamin D into account the correlation of AD. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of calcium receptor gene polymorphisms and vitamin D with the severity of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. At the present time when life expectancy significantly longer to understand the etiology of this disease can significantly improve the quality of life of elderly people.