Catechol O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism is associated with cognitive performance in nondemented adults.

The catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is essential in the metabolic degradation of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. In the present study, we examined the effect of a Val158Met polymorphism in the COMT gene on individual differences and changes in cognition (executive functions and visuospatial ability) in adulthood and old age. The participants were 292 nondemented men (initially aged 35-85 years) from a random sample of the population (i.e., the Betula study) tested at two occasions with a 5-year interval. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the underlying structure of three indicators of executive functions (verbal fluency, working memory, and Tower of Hanoi). Associations between COMT, age, executive functioning, and visuospatial (block design) tasks were examined using repeated-measures analyses of variance. Carriers of the Val allele (with higher enzyme activity) compared with carriers of the Met/Met genotype (with low enzyme activity) performed worse on executive functioning and visuospatial tasks. Individuals with the Val/Val genotype declined in executive functioning over the 5-year period, whereas carriers of the Met allele remained stable in performance. An Age x COMT interaction for visuospatial ability located the effect for middle-aged men only. This COMT polymorphism is a plausible candidate gene for executive functioning and fluid intelligence in nondemented middle-aged and older adults.

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper Fysiologi hsv//swe
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES Basic Medicine Physiology hsv//eng
MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper Neurovetenskaper hsv//swe
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES Basic Medicine Neurosciences hsv//eng
MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP Klinisk medicin Psykiatri hsv//swe
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES Clinical Medicine Psychiatry hsv//eng
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Aged
80 and over
Analysis of Variance
Catechol O-Methyltransferase
genetics
physiology
Cognition
physiology
Factor Analysis
Statistical
Humans
Male
Memory
Short-Term
physiology
Methionine
genetics
Middle Aged
Molecular Biology
methods
Neuropsychological Tests
statistics & numerical data
Polymorphism
Genetic
Problem Solving
physiology
Retrospective Studies
Valine
genetics
Verbal Behavior
physiology
dopamine D1 receptors

Annerbrink, Kristina,1974Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för fysiologi och farmakologi, Avdelningen för farmakologi,Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Dept of Pharmacology(Swepub:gu)xannkr (author)
Westberg, Lars,1973Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för fysiologi och farmakologi, Avdelningen för farmakologi,Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Dept of Pharmacology(Swepub:gu)xwelar (author)
Eriksson, Elias,1956Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för fysiologi och farmakologi, Avdelningen för farmakologi,Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, Dept of Pharmacology(Swepub:gu)xereli (author)
Adolfsson, RolfUmeå universitet,Psykiatri(Swepub:umu)road0001 (author)
Nilsson, Lars-Göran (author)
Nilsson, LR (author)
Göteborgs universitetInstitutionen för fysiologi och farmakologi, Avdelningen för farmakologi (creator_code:org_t)

In:Journal of cognitive neuroscienceCambridge : MIT Press - Journals17:7, s. 1018-250898-929X1530-8898

By the author/editor: de Frias, Cindy ...; Annerbrink, Kris ...; Westberg, Lars, ...; Eriksson, Elias, ...; Adolfsson, Rolf; Nilsson, Lars-Gö ...; show more...; Nilsson, LR; show less...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Basic Medicine; and Physiology

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Basic Medicine; and Neurosciences

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Psychiatry

By the university: University of Gothenburg; Umeå University; Karolinska Institutet

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