GABA A receptor- and GABA transporter polymorphisms and risk for essential tremor

Abstract

Background: Clinical features and animal models of essential tremor (ET) suggest gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA AR) subunits and GABA transporters as putative candidate genes. Methods: A total of 503 ET cases and 818 controls were investigated for an association between polymorphisms in 15 GABA AR and four GABA transporter genes and ET. Results: Nine nominally significant tagging SNPs (P values from 4.9×10 -2 to 5.2×10 -4) were found in the hypothesis generation stage. Five SNPs were followed up in a second verification stage but failed to reach significance. (P values from 0.30 to 0.77). Discussion: In our samples, no evidence of association between GABA AR and GABA transporter genes with ET was detected. Further studies are necessary to clarify the role of these genes in ET. © 2010 The Author(s). European Journal of Neurology © 2010 EFNS.