There is also increasing evidence that glutamatergic neurotransmission is involved in alcohol tolerance and withdrawal through its role in synaptic plasticity 27, 28. A limited number of studies testing NMDA receptor subunit genes in human samples have reported association with AD and related phenotypes 29–33. Genetic association results for genes coding subunits of the NMDA, kainate and AMPA receptors have produced mixed results 30 despite the substantial functional evidence implicating this system in AD. Results from the current study suggest that other glutamatergic genes also represent putative risk factors for AD.
