Role of the apolipoprotein E and catechol-O-methyltransferase genes in prospective and retrospective memory traits
Author(s)
Donges, B
Haupt, LM
Lea, RA
Chan, RCK
Shum, DHK
Griffiths, LR
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2012
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Human memory is a complex neurocognitive process. By combining psychological and molecular genetics expertise, we examined the APOE e4 allele, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and the COMT Val 158 polymorphism, previously implicated in schizophrenia, for association with lowered memory functioning in healthy adults. To assess memory type we used a range of memory tests of both retrospective and prospective memory. Genotypes were determined using RFLP analysis and compared with mean memory scores using univariate ANOVAs. Despite a modest sample size (n= 197), our study found a signi?cant effect of the APOE e4 ...
View more >Human memory is a complex neurocognitive process. By combining psychological and molecular genetics expertise, we examined the APOE e4 allele, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and the COMT Val 158 polymorphism, previously implicated in schizophrenia, for association with lowered memory functioning in healthy adults. To assess memory type we used a range of memory tests of both retrospective and prospective memory. Genotypes were determined using RFLP analysis and compared with mean memory scores using univariate ANOVAs. Despite a modest sample size (n= 197), our study found a signi?cant effect of the APOE e4 polymorphism in prospective memory. Supporting our hypothesis, a signi?cant difference was demonstrated between genotype groups for means of the Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory total score (p=0.036; e4 alleles= 1.99; all other alleles=1.86). In addition, we demonstrate a signi?cant interactive effect between the APOE e4 and COMT polymorphisms in semantic memory. This is the ?rst study to investigate both APOE and COMT genotypes in relation to memory in non-pathological adults and provides important information regarding the effect of genetic determinants on human memory.
View less >
View more >Human memory is a complex neurocognitive process. By combining psychological and molecular genetics expertise, we examined the APOE e4 allele, a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, and the COMT Val 158 polymorphism, previously implicated in schizophrenia, for association with lowered memory functioning in healthy adults. To assess memory type we used a range of memory tests of both retrospective and prospective memory. Genotypes were determined using RFLP analysis and compared with mean memory scores using univariate ANOVAs. Despite a modest sample size (n= 197), our study found a signi?cant effect of the APOE e4 polymorphism in prospective memory. Supporting our hypothesis, a signi?cant difference was demonstrated between genotype groups for means of the Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory total score (p=0.036; e4 alleles= 1.99; all other alleles=1.86). In addition, we demonstrate a signi?cant interactive effect between the APOE e4 and COMT polymorphisms in semantic memory. This is the ?rst study to investigate both APOE and COMT genotypes in relation to memory in non-pathological adults and provides important information regarding the effect of genetic determinants on human memory.
View less >
Journal Title
Gene
Volume
506
Issue
1
Subject
Genetics
Zoology
Medical microbiology