Project Summary

Adalberto Campo-Arias, M.D. (Young Investigator 2006) of the Universidad Autonoma de Bucaramanga, plans to study the genes that may be associated with nicotine addiction in people with schizophrenia. Nicotine addiction and schizophrenia each independently have heritable components. But many people with schizophrenia also smoke heavily. Using the association between smoking and schizophrenia vulnerability, and a progressive gene risk model (low frequency in the general population, intermediate in bipolar disorder, and high in schizophrenia), the proposed study will explore genes that may be associated with nicotine addiction in schizophrenia. Samples of 400 schizophrenia patients, 400 bipolar patients, and 400 controls will be recruited in Bucaramanga, Colombia. In addition, 200 randomlyselected siblings of the schizophrenia patients, who were disease-free at the age the case became affected, will be recruited for matching. This study will focus mostly on seven variants in the nicotine α 7 receptor gene and other genes, such as dopamine receptors and the serotonin transporter. Findings may lead to a better understanding of schizophrenia genetics.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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