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APOE and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms combine to influence episodic memory function in older adults
Citation
Ward, DD and Summers, MJ and Saunders, NLJ and Janssen, P and Stuart, KE and Vickers, JC, APOE and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms combine to influence episodic memory function in older adults, Behavioural Brain Research, 271 pp. 309-315. ISSN 0166-4328 (2014) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Crown copyright 2014 Published by Elsevier
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2014.06.022
Abstract
Genetic polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have shown inconsistent associations with healthy adult cognitive functions. Recent investigations have suggested that APOE polymorphisms do not contribute to non-pathological cognitive function and that any effect is likely due to prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). Similarly, although BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms affect hippocampal morphology and function, associations with learning and/or memory have not always been found. This study sought to determine whether APOE and BDNF polymorphisms were associated, either independently or in combination, with adult cognition. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessments were conducted on 433 older adults, aged 50–79 years (M = 62.16, SD = 6.81), which yielded measures of episodic memory, working memory, executive function, and language processing. Participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment to ensure that only cognitively intact individuals comprised the sample. APOE and BDNF polymorphic data were used as predictors in general linear models that assessed composite cognitive domain variables, while covarying for education and age. Although no main effects for APOE or BDNF were found, the analysis identified a significant APOE × BDNF interaction that predicted episodic memory performance (p = .02, η2 = .02). Post-hoc analyses demonstrated that in BDNF Val homozygotes, the cognitive consequences of APOE polymorphisms were minimal. However, in BDNF Met carriers, the hypothesized beneficial/detrimental effects of APOE polymorphisms were found. Our data show that concurrent consideration of both APOE and BDNF polymorphisms are required in order to witness a cognitive effect in healthy older adults.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | APOE, BDNF, aging, episodic memory, polymorphism, older adult |
| Research Division: | Psychology and Cognitive Sciences |
| Research Group: | Psychology |
| Research Field: | Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology) |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) |
| Objective Field: | Nervous System and Disorders |
| Author: | Ward, DD (Mr David Ward) |
| Author: | Summers, MJ (Dr Mathew Summers) |
| Author: | Saunders, NLJ (Dr Nichole Saunders) |
| Author: | Stuart, KE (Miss Kimberley Stuart) |
| Author: | Vickers, JC (Professor James Vickers) |
| ID Code: | 92990 |
| Year Published: | 2014 |
| Funding Support: | National Health and Medical Research Council (1003645) |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 17 |
| Deposited By: | Psychology |
| Deposited On: | 2014-07-03 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-06 |
| Downloads: | 173 View Download Statistics |
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