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Byczynski GE, D'Angiulli A. Frontal P300 asymmetry and congruence judgment: Retroactive switching is impaired during school day mornings in female adolescents. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 6:100128. [PMID: 38577062 PMCID: PMC10990860 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2024.100128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigating frontal EEG asymmetry as a possible biomarker of cognitive control abilities is especially important in ecological contexts such as school and work. We used a novel approach combining judgment performance and hemispheric frontal event-related potential (ERP) P300 asymmetry (fP3As) to evaluate aspects of cognitive control (i.e., repetition and switching) in adolescent females over a two-week ordinary school period. While undergoing electroencephalographic recording, students performed a word-colour "Stroop-like" congruence judgment task during morning and afternoon sessions, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Proportion of incongruence and congruence trials was 75% and 25%, respectively. ERP analysis revealed larger "novelty" right hemispheric fP3As amplitude for infrequent congruence but equivalent or significantly smaller than left hemispheric fP3As amplitude for frequent incongruence. RTs increased with extent of right fP3As shift. Behaviorally, repeat trial pairs (i.e., congruent followed by congruent, incongruent followed by incongruent) generally did not differ by time or day and were associated with near-ceiling accuracy. In contrast, switch trial pairs (i.e., congruent followed by incongruent, incongruent followed by congruent) in the afternoon were slower and associated with lower accuracy at the expected 75% criterion rate (i.e., judging incongruence by default), dropping significantly below 75% in the mornings. Crucially, compared to afternoon, morning fP3As patterns did not change adaptively with switch trial pairs. Although retroactive switching during congruence judgment was affected at all testing times, we conclude it was most impaired in the mornings of both early and mid school weeks, supporting misalignment between adolescent circadian cycle and school start time. We discuss some implications for optimal learning of adolescents at school.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel E. Byczynski
- Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Amedeo D'Angiulli
- Neuroscience of Cognition and Imagination and Emotion Research Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B7, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada
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Hertenstein E, Kuhn M, Landmann N, Maier JG, Schneider CL, Fehér KD, Frase L, Riemann D, Feige B, Nissen C. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic polymorphism rs6265 and creativity. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291397. [PMID: 37703265 PMCID: PMC10499242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes neural plasticity of the central nervous system and plays an important role for learning and memory. A single nucleotide polymorphism (rs6265) at position 66 in the pro-region of the human BDNF gene, resulting in a substitution of the amino acid valine (val) with methionine (met), leads to attenuated BDNF secretion and has been associated with reduced neurocognitive function. Inhomogeneous results have been found regarding the effect of the BDNF genotype on behavior. We determined the BDNF genotype and performance on the Compound Remote Associate (CRA) task as a common measure of creativity in 76 healthy university students. In our main analyses, we did not find significant differences between met-carriers (n = 30) and non-met carriers (n = 46). In a secondary analysis, we found that met-carriers had a slower solution time (medium effect size) for items of medium difficulty. Our results suggest that met-carriers and non-met-carriers do not generally differ regarding their creativity, but non-met-carriers may have a certain advantage when it comes to moderately difficult problems. The wider literature suggests that both genetic variants come with advantages and disadvantages. Future research needs to sharpen our understanding of the disadvantages and, potentially, advantages met allele carriers may have.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Hertenstein
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marion Kuhn
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nina Landmann
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan-Gabriel Maier
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Lukas Frase
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dieter Riemann
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Feige
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Nissen
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Psychiatric Specialties, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland
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Bonetti L, Bruzzone S, Paunio T, Kantojärvi K, Kliuchko M, Vuust P, Palva S, Brattico E. Moderate associations between BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism, musical expertise, and mismatch negativity. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15600. [PMID: 37153429 PMCID: PMC10160759 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Auditory predictive processing relies on a complex interaction between environmental, neurophysiological, and genetic factors. In this view, the mismatch negativity (MMN) and intensive training on a musical instrument for several years have been used for studying environment-driven neural adaptations in audition. In addition, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown crucial for both the neurogenesis and the later adaptation of the auditory system. The functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Val66Met (rs6265) in the BDNF gene can affect BDNF protein levels, which are involved in neurobiological and neurophysiological processes such as neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity. In this study, we hypothesised that genetic variation within the BDNF gene would be associated with different levels of neuroplasticity of the auditory cortex in 74 musically trained participants. To achieve this goal, musicians and non-musicians were recruited and divided in Val/Val and Met- (Val/Met and Met/Met) carriers and their brain activity was measured with magnetoencephalography (MEG) while they listened to a regular auditory sequence eliciting different types of prediction errors. MMN responses indexing those prediction errors were overall enhanced in Val/Val carriers who underwent intensive musical training, compared to Met-carriers and non-musicians with either genotype. Although this study calls for replications with larger samples, our results provide a first glimpse of the possible role of gene-regulated neurotrophic factors in the neural adaptations of automatic predictive processing in the auditory domain after long-term training.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Bonetti
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark
- Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Italy
- Corresponding author. Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark, and Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - S.E.P. Bruzzone
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - T. Paunio
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - K. Kantojärvi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - M. Kliuchko
- Hearing Systems Section, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - P. Vuust
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark
| | - S. Palva
- Helsinki Institute of Life Sciences, Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Finland
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - E. Brattico
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy
- Corresponding author. Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Denmark.
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Corrone M, Ratnayake R, de Oliveira N, Jaehne EJ, van den Buuse M. Methamphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization in mice is not associated with deficits in a range of cognitive, affective and social behaviours: interaction with brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met genotype. Behav Pharmacol 2023; 34:20-36. [PMID: 36373697 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chronic methamphetamine (Meth) abuse may induce psychosis similar to that observed in schizophrenia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the development of psychosis. We have previously shown long-term protein expression changes in mice treated chronically with Meth depending on BDNF Val66Met genotype. The aim of this study was to investigate if these protein expression changes were associated with differential changes in a range of behavioural paradigms for cognition, anxiety, social and other behaviours. Male and female Val/Val, Val/Met and Met/Met mice were treated with an escalating Meth dose protocol from 6 to 9 weeks of age, with controls receiving saline injections. Several overlapping cohorts were tested in the Y-maze for short-term spatial memory, novel-object recognition test, context and cued fear conditioning, sociability and social preference, elevated plus maze for anxiety-like behaviour and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle. Finally, the animals were assessed for spontaneous exploratory locomotor activity and acute Meth-induced locomotor hyperactivity. Acute Meth caused significantly greater locomotor hyperactivity in mice previously treated with the drug than in saline-pretreated controls. Meth-pretreated female mice showed a mild increase in spontaneous locomotor activity. There were no Meth-induced deficits in any of the other behavioural tests. Val/Met mice showed higher overall social investigation time and lower PPI compared with the Val/Val genotype independent of pretreatment. These results show limited long-term effects of chronic Meth on a range of cognitive, affective and social behaviours despite marked drug-induced locomotor sensitization in mice. There was no interaction with BDNF Val66Met genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Corrone
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Contributing Factors to Sensorimotor Adaptability in Reactive Agility Performance in Youth Athletes. J Hum Kinet 2022; 83:39-48. [PMID: 36157954 PMCID: PMC9465760 DOI: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor adaptability facilitates adjusting behaviour for changing environmental stimuli to maintain appropriate goal-directed motor performance. Its effectiveness is associated with perceptual-cognitive modulation. As the factors affecting it are still not completely known, the aim of our study was therefore to analyse the association between selected variables (demographic, training, anthropometric, genetic) and sensorimotor adaptation in reactive agility tasks in youth team-sport athletes. The study group consisted of 85 youth athletes (aged 12.61 ± 0.98 years). Based on an initial evaluation, participants were divided into faster and slower agility groups. The resultant differences between change of direction speed tests and reactive agility tests provided the REAC-INDEX as a dependent variable. The independent variables were as follows: gender, calendar age, body mass, height, BMI, maturity offset, training status and the BDNF rs6265 polymorphism. Multiple linear regression showed that the maturity offset (ß = 0.269; p = 0.012) and calendar age (ß = -0.411; p < 0.001) significantly contributed to the REAC-INDEX of all participants (R2 = 0.13). In the slower group, the c.196G BDNF allele had a significant influence (ß = -0.140; p = 0.044) on the REAC-INDEX. The best predictive model comprised female gender (ß = 0.799; p < 0.001), maturity offset (ß = -0.586; p < 0.001) and training experience (ß = -0.225; p = 0.009), contributing to 49% of RA variance. Sensorimotor adaptability is mainly dependent on gender and age, and can be improved through systematic sports training. The BDNF rs6265 polymorphism may be considered a contributing factor to SA variability in the initial stages of training, although polymorphism-related differences blurred as the effect of participation in sports training increased.
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Prediction of the cognitive impairment development in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism. Endocr Regul 2022; 56:178-189. [DOI: 10.2478/enr-2022-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Objective. The aim of the present work is to define the risk factors that can affect the presence of a cognitive impairment and analyze the associations of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphism (rs6265), vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism (rs2228570), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor gene polymorphism (rs4880213) with the cognitive impairment in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism in the Western Ukraine population and predict the development of cognitive disorders in these patients.
Methods. The study involved 153 patients with various forms of thyroid pathology (hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, elevated serum antibodies anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase). Cognitive impairment in the examined patients was evaluated based on the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test. BDNF, GRIN2B, and 25-OH Vitamin D levels in the serum of the patients and healthy individuals were quantified using highly sensitive commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Genotyping of the VDR (rs2228570), BDNF (rs6265), and NMDA receptor (rs4880213) gene polymorphism was performed using TaqMan probes and Taq-Man Genotyping Master Mix (4371355) on CFX96™Real-Time PCR Detection System. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TaqMan genotyping was carried out according to the kit instructions.
Results. Strong direct relationship between the “Level GRIN2B” and cognitive impairments (p=0.006) was established after evaluating the complex model based on the values of the regression coefficient. An increase in the likelihood of cognitive impairment by 24.898-fold (p=0.012) was seen after assessing the effect of the CT rs6265 genotype. In addition, direct relationship between the influence of the TT rs6265 genotype and an increase in the likelihood of cognitive impairment by a factor of 21.734 (p=0.024) was also established.
Conclusion. The present data indicate that the BDNF, TSH, fT4, and vitamin D levels prognostically belong to the significant indicators of the cognitive impairment development.
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Halonen R, Kuula L, Lahti J, Räikkönen K, Pesonen AK. The association between overnight recognition accuracy and slow oscillation-spindle coupling is moderated by BDNF Val66Met. Behav Brain Res 2022; 428:113889. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Sasaki R, Miyaguchi S, Onishi H. Effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms on motor performance and motor learning: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Behav Brain Res 2021; 420:113712. [PMID: 34915075 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms may modulate neurotransmitter efficiency, thereby influencing motor performance and motor learning. However, studies to date have provided no consensus regarding the genetic influence of BDNF genotypes (i.e., Val/Val, Val/Met, or Met/Met type). This study aimed to investigate the effect of BDNF genotype on motor performance and motor learning in healthy human adults via a systematic review and meta-analysis. A total of 19 relevant studies were identified using PubMed and Web of Science search for articles published between 2000 and 2021 with motor performance or motor learning as the primary outcome measures. The results of our systematic review suggest that the BDNF genotype is unlikely to contribute to motor performance and motor learning abilities because only 2/32 datasets (6.3%) from 16 studies on motor performance and 3/19 datasets (17.6%) from 13 studies on motor learning indicated a significant genetic effect. Moreover, a meta-analysis of motor learning publications involving 17 datasets from 11 studies revealed that there was no significant difference in the learning score normalized using baseline data between Val/Val and Met carriers (Val/Met + Met/Met or Val/Met; standardized mean differences = 0.08, P = 0.37) with zero heterogeneity (I2 = 0) and a relatively low risk of publication bias. Taken together, the BDNF genotype may have only a minor impact on individual motor performance and motor learning abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoki Sasaki
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan; Discipline of Physiology, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
| | - Shota Miyaguchi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan; Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan.
| | - Hideaki Onishi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan; Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan.
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West GL, Konishi K, MacDonald K, Ni A, Joober R, Bohbot VD. The BDNF val66met polymorphism is associated with decreased use of landmarks and decreased fMRI activity in the hippocampus during virtual navigation. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6406-6421. [PMID: 34467592 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
People can navigate in a new environment using multiple strategies dependent on different memory systems. A series of studies have dissociated between hippocampus-dependent 'spatial' navigation and habit-based 'response' learning mediated by the caudate nucleus. The val66met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene leads to decreased secretion of BDNF in the brain, including the hippocampus. Here, we aim to investigate the role of the BDNF val66met polymorphism on virtual navigation behaviour and brain activity in healthy older adults. A total of 139 healthy older adult participants (mean age = 65.8 ± 4.4 years) were tested in this study. Blood samples were collected, and BDNF val66met genotyping was performed. Participants were divided into two genotype groups: val homozygotes and met carriers. Participants were tested on virtual dual-solution navigation tasks in which they could use either a hippocampus-dependent spatial strategy or a caudate nucleus-dependent response strategy to solve the task. A subset of the participants (n = 66) were then scanned in a 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner while engaging in another dual-solution navigation task. BDNF val/val individuals and met carriers did not differ in learning performance. However, the two BDNF groups differed in learning strategy. BDNF val/val individuals relied more on landmarks to remember target locations (i.e., increased use of flexible spatial learning), while met carriers relied more on sequences and patterns to remember target locations (i.e., increased use of inflexible response learning). Additionally, BDNF val/val individuals had more fMRI activity in the hippocampus compared with BDNF met carriers during performance on the navigation task. This is the first study to show in older adults that BDNF met carriers use alternate learning strategies from val/val individuals and to identify differential brain activation of this behavioural difference between the two groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg L West
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kyoko Konishi
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kathleen MacDonald
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anjie Ni
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ridha Joober
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
| | - Veronique D Bohbot
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
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Vanneste S, Mohan A, De Ridder D, To WT. The BDNF Val 66Met polymorphism regulates vulnerability to chronic stress and phantom perception. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2021; 260:301-326. [PMID: 33637225 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Auditory phantom percepts, such as tinnitus, are a heterogeneous condition with great interindividual variations regarding both the percept itself and its concomitants. Tinnitus causes a considerable amount of distress, with as many as 25% of affected people reporting that it interferes with their daily lives. Although previous research gives an idea about the neural correlates of tinnitus-related distress, it cannot explain why some tinnitus patients develop distress and while others are not bothered by their tinnitus. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) is a known risk factor for affective disorders due to its common frequency and established functionality. To elucidate, we explore the neural activation pattern of tinnitus associated with the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism using electrophysiological data to assess activity and connectivity changes. A total of 110 participants (55 tinnitus and 55 matched control subjects) were included. In this study, we validate that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism plays an important role in the susceptibility to the clinical manifestation of tinnitus-related distress. We demonstrate that Val/Met carriers have increased alpha power in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex that correlates with distress levels. Furthermore, distress mediates the relationship between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and tinnitus loudness. In other words, for Val/Met carriers, the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex sends distress-related information to the parahippocampus, which likely integrates the loudness and distress of the tinnitus percept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Vanneste
- Lab for Clinical and Integrative Neuroscience, Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; Lab for Clinical and Integrative Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States.
| | - Anusha Mohan
- Lab for Clinical and Integrative Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Dirk De Ridder
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Neurosurgery, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Wing Ting To
- Lab for Clinical and Integrative Neuroscience, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, United States
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Corrone M, Nanev A, Amato I, Bicknell R, Wundersitz DWT, van den Buuse M, Wright BJ. Brain-derived Neurotropic Factor val66met is a Strong Predictor of Decision Making and Attention Performance on the CONVIRT Virtual Reality Cognitive Battery. Neuroscience 2020; 455:19-29. [PMID: 33340609 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The val66met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene has been associated with changes in components of executive functioning such as decision making; however, this relationship remains unclear. Val66met-related changes in attention and visual processing speed may explain potential changes in decision making. Furthermore, chronic stress disrupts executive functions and alters autonomic activity. Because the relationship between val66met and cognition has not been investigated in the context of chronic stress or stress-related autonomic changes, in this study 55 healthy university students completed self-report measures of chronic stress and mental health. Participants then completed a virtual reality cognitive test battery (CONVIRT) measuring decision making, attention, and visual processing reaction times. To measure autonomic activity, saliva alpha amylase and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed at baseline and after CONVIRT testing. Saliva samples were used to identify val66met genotype. Regression analyses demonstrated that val66met was the strongest predictor of decision making and attention, but not visual processing, where valine/methionine (Val/met) participants had faster reaction times than Val/val participants. Val/met participants also had higher perceived chronic stress and heightened increases in sympathetic activity, but not parasympathetic activity. Neither stress nor autonomic activity moderated the effect of val66met on decision making or attention. This study is the first to investigate the role of val66met in decision making, attention, and visual processing while taking into account chronic stress and autonomic activity. This multifactorial approach revealed that carriers of the Val/met genotype may have better decision making and attention than Val/val carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Corrone
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Aleshia Nanev
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Isabella Amato
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Rowena Bicknell
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | | | - Maarten van den Buuse
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Bradley James Wright
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
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Wang W, Liu Y, Luo S, Guo X, Luo X, Zhang Y. Associations between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive impairment in panic disorder. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01885. [PMID: 33047489 PMCID: PMC7749616 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Our study was designed to examine the relationship between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) genotypes (rs6265, Val66Met), BDNF plasma levels, and cognitive impairment in Chinese patients with panic disorder (PD). METHODS Total 85 patients with PD and 91 healthy controls finally completed all assessments. The severity of panic symptoms and whole anxiety of PD was measured by Panic Disorder Severity Scale-Chinese Version (PDSS-CV) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA-14). Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and some neurocognitive measures were conducted to evaluate the cognitive performance. All participants were detected for the plasma BDNF levels and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism before assessment and treatment. RESULTS No significant differences were found in the BDNF allele frequencies and the BDNF genotype distributions between healthy controls and PD patients. BDNF Met/Met genotype was associated with lower BDNF plasma levels in PD patients, and PD patients with BDNF Met/Met genotype had the lower scores in the attention and speed of processing domains compared to those with Val/Val and Met/Val genotype (p's < .05). Among PD patients, the BDNF plasma levels showed moderate positive correlations with Stroop interference (r = .60, p < .001). Using the MoCA data, the BDNF plasma levels were correlated with delayed memory (r = .50, p < .001), verbal learning (r = .45, p < .001), and total scores of MoCA (r = .51, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS The BDNF Met/Met genotype may be associated with lower BDNF plasma levels and cognitive impairments in PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchen Wang
- Department of Bipolar Disorder, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Chest Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuqing Luo
- Department of Obstetrics, Baoding Second Central Hospital, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaoyun Guo
- Department of psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingguang Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Bipolar Disorder, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin, China
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13
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The association between sleep-wake ratio and overnight picture recognition is moderated by BDNF genotype. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2020; 177:107353. [PMID: 33253827 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A wealth of studies supports the role of sleep in memory performance. Experimentally controlled studies indicate that prolonged wake after memory encoding is detrimental for memory outcome whereas sleep protects from wake-time interference and promotes memory consolidation. We examined how the natural distribution of wake and sleep between encoding and retrieval associated with overnight picture recognition accuracy among 161 adolescents following their typical sleep schedule with an in-home polysomnography. The memorized pictures varied in their level of arousal (calm to exciting) and valence (negative to positive). Suspecting genotypic influence on the sensitivity for sleep/wake dynamics, we also assessed if these associations were affected by known gene polymorphisms involved in neural plasticity and sleep homeostasis: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met and Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met. In the whole sample, overnight recognition accuracy was associated with the levels of arousal and valence of the pictures, but not with sleep percentage (i.e. the percentage of time spent asleep between memory encoding and retrieval). While the allelic status of BDNF or COMT did not have any main effect on recognition accuracy, a significant moderation by BDNF Val66Met was found (p = .004): the subgroup homozygous for valine allele showed positive association between sleep percentage and recognition accuracy. This was underlain by detrimental influence of wake, rather than by any memory benefit of sleep. Our results complement the mounting evidence that the relation between sleep and memory performance is moderated by BDNF Val66Met. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific mechanisms.
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14
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Electrophysiological correlates of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17915. [PMID: 33087740 PMCID: PMC7578797 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74780-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein is essential for neuronal development. Val66Met (rs6265) is a functional polymorphism at codon 66 of the BDNF gene that affects neuroplasticity and has been associated with cognition, brain structure and function. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and neuronal oscillatory activity, using the electroencephalogram (EEG), in a normative cohort. Neurotypical (N = 92) young adults were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and had eyes open resting-state EEG recorded for four minutes. Focal increases in right fronto-parietal delta, and decreases in alpha-1 and right hemispheric alpha-2 amplitudes were observed for the Met/Met genotype group compared to Val/Val and Val/Met groups. Stronger frontal topographies were demonstrated for beta-1 and beta-2 in the Val/Met group versus the Val/Val group. Findings highlight BDNF Val66Met genotypic differences in EEG spectral amplitudes, with increased cortical excitability implications for Met allele carriers.
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15
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Malykhin NV, Travis S, Fujiwara E, Huang Y, Camicioli R, Olsen F. The associations of the
BDNF
and
APOE
polymorphisms, hippocampal subfield volumes, and episodic memory performance across the lifespan. Hippocampus 2020; 30:1081-1097. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai V. Malykhin
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Department of Psychiatry University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Scott Travis
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Esther Fujiwara
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Department of Psychiatry University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Yushan Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | | | - Fraser Olsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
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16
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Reifegerste J, Veríssimo J, Rugg MD, Pullman MY, Babcock L, Glei DA, Weinstein M, Goldman N, Ullman MT. Early-life education may help bolster declarative memory in old age, especially for women. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 28:218-252. [PMID: 32501778 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1736497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Although declarative memory declines with age, sex and education might moderate these weaknesses. We investigated effects of sex and education on nonverbal declarative (recognition) memory in 704 older adults (aged 58-98, 0-17 years of education). Items were drawings of real and made-up objects. Age negatively impacted declarative memory, though this age effect was moderated by sex and object-type: it was steeper for males than females, but only for real objects. Education was positively associated with memory, but also interacted with sex and object-type: education benefited women more than men (countering the age effects, especially for women), and remembering real more than made-up objects. The findings suggest that nonverbal memory in older adults is associated negatively with age but positively with education; both effects are modulated by sex, and by whether learning relates to preexisting or new information. The study suggests downstream benefits from education, especially for girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Reifegerste
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University , Washington, DC, USA.,Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Institute for Psychology , Münster, Germany.,Potsdam Research Institute for Multilingualism, University of Potsdam , Potsdam, Germany
| | - João Veríssimo
- Potsdam Research Institute for Multilingualism, University of Potsdam , Potsdam, Germany
| | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas , TX, USA.,School of Psychology, University of East Anglia , Norwich, UK
| | | | - Laura Babcock
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dana A Glei
- Center for Population and Health, Georgetown University , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Maxine Weinstein
- Center for Population and Health, Georgetown University , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Noreen Goldman
- Office of Population Research, Princeton University , New Jersey, USA
| | - Michael T Ullman
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University , Washington, DC, USA
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17
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Vorobyeva EV, Ermakov PN, Borokhovski EF, Kovsh EM, Stoletniy AS. Association between categorization of emotionally-charged and neutral visual scenes and parameters of event-related potentials in carriers of COMT, HTR2A, BDNF gene polymorphisms. F1000Res 2020; 9:446. [PMID: 32983417 PMCID: PMC7495216 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.22503.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 03/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to discover the association between parameters of event-related potentials (ERPs) and categorization of images of visual scenes, both emotionally-charged and neutral, in carriers of polymorphisms of the COMT, HTR2A, BDNF genes. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and ERPs were recorded at 128 leads, with two ear referents. Images of different visual scenes were presented to the study participants sequentially on a monitor screen. The participants' task was to examine these images and indicate what emotions (negative, neutral or positive) they elicit. Comparison of event-related potentials was carried out using unpaired Student t-test in EEGLAB toolbox. Results: COMT. A stronger reaction, as reflected in the amplitude of the ERPs, in participants with the recessive homozygous Met/Met genotype was observed on latency around 200 ms to the stimuli, assessed as positive. Carriers of dominant homozygous Val/Val genotype had higher amplitude of 200 ms peak when assessed scene images as either neutral or negative in comparison to other genotypes. Participant with the Val/Met heterozygous genotype had higher amplitude of ERP that Met/Met group on same latency when assessed stimuli as negative. HTR2A . Significant increase in negativity in the parietal-occipital regions revealed in the range of 350-420 ms in participants with the recessive homozygous A/A genotype when choosing any type of assessment, compared to carriers of the heterozygous genotype A/G and the dominant homozygous G/G genotype. BDNF. Participants with Val/Val genotype categorized the visual images more thoroughly, as reflected in greater activation of the parietal-occipital zones and higher amplitude on ERP peak on 190 ms (negative assessment) and 160 ms (neutral assessment) then Val/Met carriers. Conclusions: The COMT, HTR2A, BDNF gene polymorphisms are associated with the process of categorizing emotionally charged and neutral visual scenes, and this relationship is reflected in the ERP parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V. Vorobyeva
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
| | - Pavel N. Ermakov
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
| | - Evgenij F. Borokhovski
- Department of Education, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance of Concordia University, Montreal, H3H 2S2, Canada
| | - Ekaterina M. Kovsh
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander S. Stoletniy
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
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18
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Vorobyeva EV, Ermakov PN, Borokhovski EF, Kovsh EM, Stoletniy AS. Association between categorization of emotionally-charged and neutral visual scenes and parameters of event-related potentials in carriers of different COMT, HTR2A, BDNF gene genotypes. F1000Res 2020; 9:446. [PMID: 32983417 PMCID: PMC7495216 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.22503.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to discover the association between parameters of event-related potentials (ERPs) and categorization of images of visual scenes, both emotionally-charged and neutral, in carriers of different genotypes of the COMT, HTR2A, BDNF genes. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and ERPs were recorded at 128 leads, with two ear referents. Images of different visual scenes were presented to the study participants sequentially on a monitor screen. The participants' task was to examine these images and indicate what emotions (negative, neutral or positive) they elicit. Comparison of event-related potentials was carried out using unpaired Student t-test in EEGLAB toolbox. Results: COMT. A stronger reaction, as reflected in the amplitude of the ERPs, in participants with the recessive homozygous Met/Met genotype was observed on latency around 200 ms to the stimuli, assessed as positive. Carriers of dominant homozygous Val/Val genotype had higher amplitude of 200 ms peak when assessed scene images as either neutral or negative in comparison to other genotypes. Participant with the Val/Met heterozygous genotype had higher amplitude of ERP that Met/Met group on same latency when assessed stimuli as negative. HTR2A . Significant increase in negativity in the parietal-occipital regions revealed in the range of 350-420 ms in participants with the recessive homozygous A/A genotype when choosing any type of assessment, compared to carriers of the heterozygous genotype A/G and the dominant homozygous G/G genotype. BDNF. Participants with Val/Val genotype categorized the visual images more thoroughly, as reflected in greater activation of the parietal-occipital zones and higher amplitude on ERP peak on 190 ms (negative assessment) and 160 ms (neutral assessment) then Val/Met carriers. Conclusions: The COMT, HTR2A, BDNF gene different genotypes are associated with the process of categorizing emotionally charged and neutral visual scenes, and this relationship is reflected in the ERP parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V. Vorobyeva
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
| | - Pavel N. Ermakov
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
| | - Evgenij F. Borokhovski
- Department of Education, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance of Concordia University, Montreal, H3H 2S2, Canada
| | - Ekaterina M. Kovsh
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander S. Stoletniy
- Department of Psychophysiology and Clinical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Education Sciences of Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
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19
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The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Modulates Resilience of Neurological Functioning to Brain Ageing and Dementia: A Narrative Review. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10040195. [PMID: 32218234 PMCID: PMC7226504 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) is an abundant and multi-function neurotrophin in the brain. It is released following neuronal activity and is believed to be particularly important in strengthening neural networks. A common variation in the BDNF gene, a valine to methionine substitution at codon 66 (Val66Met), has been linked to differential expression of BDNF associated with experience-dependent plasticity. The Met allele has been associated with reduced production of BDNF following neuronal stimulation, which suggests a potential role of this variation with respect to how the nervous system may respond to challenges, such as brain ageing and related neurodegenerative conditions (e.g., dementia and Alzheimer’s disease). The current review examines the potential of the BDNF Val66Met variation to modulate an individual’s susceptibility and trajectory through cognitive changes associated with ageing and dementia. On balance, research to date indicates that the BDNF Met allele at this codon is potentially associated with a detrimental influence on the level of cognitive functioning in older adults and may also impart increased risk of progression to dementia. Furthermore, recent studies also show that this genetic variation may modulate an individual’s response to interventions targeted at building cognitive resilience to conditions that cause dementia.
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20
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Halonen R, Kuula L, Lahti J, Makkonen T, Räikkönen K, Pesonen AK. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism moderates the association between sleep spindles and overnight visual recognition. Behav Brain Res 2019; 375:112157. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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21
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Jones R, Craig G, Bhattacharya J. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism Is Associated With a Reduced ERP Component Indexing Emotional Recollection. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1922. [PMID: 31496979 PMCID: PMC6712090 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Met allele of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism is associated with reduced functioning of the amygdala and hippocampus. It has been linked to major psychiatric conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and is associated with deficits in episodic memory. The precise mechanisms of the BDNF gene’s influence on emotional memory are not well characterized, especially its impact on recognition. Two electrophysiological experiments of emotional memory were run on two independent samples genotyped for BDNF Val66Met. Event-related potentials (ERPs) corresponding to the recognition of negative and neutral words (Experiment 1, N = 37) and negative and positive words (Experiment 2, N = 23) were recorded, and the late parietal component (LPC), typically associated with conscious recollection, was analyzed. In Experiment 1, a reduced LPC was observed in Met carriers (N = 12) compared to Val homozygotes (N = 25) in the negative condition, but the group difference was not present in the neutral condition. In Experiment 2, the reduced LPC was seen in Met carriers (N = 12) compared to Val homozygotes (N = 11) across both conditions. This study provides the first evidence of an association between the BDNF Val66Met genotype and the late parietal electrophysiological component, suggesting that the conscious experience of emotional recollection may differ according to BDNF Val66Met genotype. Further, these results suggest that this effect is likely due to emotional arousal rather than valence polarity. Results were discussed with reference to the possible mechanisms by which emotional recollection deficits may contribute to psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon Jones
- Department of Psychology, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom.,Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin Craig
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joydeep Bhattacharya
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Wheeler AL, Felsky D, Viviano JD, Stojanovski S, Ameis SH, Szatmari P, Lerch JP, Chakravarty MM, Voineskos AN. BDNF-Dependent Effects on Amygdala-Cortical Circuitry and Depression Risk in Children and Youth. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:1760-1770. [PMID: 28387866 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for brain development, and the functional BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is implicated in risk for mood disorders. The objective of this study was to determine how the Val66Met polymorphism influences amygdala-cortical connectivity during neurodevelopment and assess the relevance for mood disorders. Age- and sex-specific effects of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on amygdala-cortical connectivity were assessed by examining covariance of amygdala volumes with thickness throughout the cortex in a sample of Caucasian youths ages 8-22 that were part of the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (n = 339). Follow-up analyses assessed corresponding BDNF genotype effects on resting-state functional connectivity (n = 186) and the association between BDNF genotype and major depressive disorder (MDD) (n = 2749). In adolescents, amygdala-cortical covariance was significantly stronger in Met allele carriers compared with Val/Val homozygotes in amygdala-cortical networks implicated in depression; these differences were driven by females. In follow-up analyses, the Met allele was also associated with stronger resting-state functional connectivity in adolescents and increased likelihood of MDD in adolescent females. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may confer risk for mood disorders in females through effects on amygdala-cortical connectivity during adolescence, coinciding with a period in the lifespan when onset of depression often occurs, more commonly in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L Wheeler
- Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
| | - Daniel Felsky
- Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8
| | - Joseph D Viviano
- Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8
| | - Sonja Stojanovski
- Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4
| | - Stephanie H Ameis
- Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4.,Child Youth and Emerging Adult Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8
| | - Peter Szatmari
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4.,Child Youth and Emerging Adult Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 0A4.,Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1L7
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4H 1R3.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, 3775 rue University Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B4
| | - Aristotle N Voineskos
- Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8.,Child Youth and Emerging Adult Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1R8
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23
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Atrooz F, Liu H, Salim S. Stress, psychiatric disorders, molecular targets, and more. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2019; 167:77-105. [PMID: 31601407 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mental health is central to normal health outcomes. A widely accepted theory is that chronic persistent stress during adulthood as well as during early life triggers onset of neuropsychiatric ailments. However, questions related to how that occurs, and why are some individuals resistant to stress while others are not, remain unanswered. An integrated, multisystemic stress response involving neuroinflammatory, neuroendocrine, epigenetic and metabolic cascades have been suggested to have causative links. Several theories have been proposed over the years to conceptualize this link including the cytokine hypothesis, the endocrine hypothesis, the oxidative stress hypothesis and the oxido-neuroinflammation hypothesis. The data discussed in this review describes potential biochemical basis of the link between stress, and stress-induced neuronal, behavioral and emotional deficits, providing insights into potentially novel drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatin Atrooz
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Hesong Liu
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Samina Salim
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
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24
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Harper SA, Dowdell BT, Kim JH, Pollock BS, Ridgel AL. Non-Motor Symptoms after One Week of High Cadence Cycling in Parkinson's Disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E2104. [PMID: 31197095 PMCID: PMC6616554 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The objective was to investigate if high cadence cycling altered non-motor cognition and depression symptoms in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and whether exercise responses were influenced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism. Individuals with idiopathic PD who were ≥50 years old and free of surgical procedures for PD were recruited. Participants were assigned to either a cycling (n = 20) or control (n = 15) group. The cycling group completed three sessions of high cadence cycling on a custom motorized stationary ergometer. The primary outcome was cognition (attention, executive function, and emotion recognition were assessed via WebNeuro® and global cognition via Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Depression symptoms were assessed via Beck Depression Inventory-II. There was a main effect of time for emotional recognition (p = 0.048), but there were no other changes in cognition or depression symptoms. Regardless of intervention or Val66Met polymorphism, high cadence cycling does not alter cognition or depression symptoms after three sessions in one week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Harper
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA.
- Center for Exercise Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA.
| | - Bryan T Dowdell
- Exercise Physiology Department, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA.
| | - Jin Hyun Kim
- Exercise Physiology Department, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA.
| | - Brandon S Pollock
- Department of Exercise Science, Walsh University, North Canton, OH 44720, USA.
| | - Angela L Ridgel
- Exercise Physiology Department, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA.
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25
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McKay NS, Moreau D, Henare DT, Kirk IJ. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met genotype does not influence the grey or white matter structures underlying recognition memory. Neuroimage 2019; 197:1-12. [PMID: 30954706 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.03.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has previously been associated with a reduction in recognition memory performance. While previous findings have highlighted that this SNP contributes to recognition memory, little is known about its influence on subprocesses of recognition, familiarity and recollection. Previous research has reported reduced hippocampal volume and decreased fractional anisotropy in carriers of the Met allele across a range of white matter tracts, including those networks that may support recognition memory. Here, in a sample of 61 healthy young adults, we used a source memory task to measure accuracy on each recognition subprocess, in order to determine whether the Val66Met SNP (rs6265) influences these equally. Additionally, we compared grey matter volume between these groups for structures that underpin familiarity and recollection separately. Finally, we used probabilistic tractography to reconstruct tracts that subserve each of these two recognition systems. Behaviourally, we found group differences on the familiarity measure, but not on recollection. However, we did not find any group difference on grey- or white-matter structures. Together, these results suggest a functional influence of the Val66Met SNP that is independent of coarse structural changes, and nuance previous research highlighting the relationship between BDNF, brain structure, and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S McKay
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - David Moreau
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Dion T Henare
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ian J Kirk
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Brain Research New Zealand, New Zealand
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26
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Zaki NFW, Saleh E, Elwasify M, Mahmoud E, Zaki J, Spence DW, BaHammam AS, Pandi-Perumal SR. The association of BDNF gene polymorphism with cognitive impairment in insomnia patients. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 88:253-264. [PMID: 30076879 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reductions in BDNF activity have shown associations with depressed mood. Other evidence has demonstrated that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) appears to reduce neural plasticity. A limited number of studies have investigated the influence of these genetic polymorphisms in insomnia. The present study sought to confirm the presence of associations between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) occurrence in normal sleepers and those with insomnia. METHOD The study subjects consisted of a patient group (n = 199) complaining of insomnia and a control group (n = 51). Each subject was clinically interviewed using questions taken from the Brief Insomnia Questionnaire. After the interview, the subjects were asked to complete the Insomnia Severity Index, The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test. An overnight polysomnography test was also administered. Blood samples were collected for genetic study. RESULTS The insomnia patients showed a greater prevalence of heterozygous (A/G) VAL/MET polymorphism than the normal controls (p = ≤ 0.0001). This finding confirmed that this genetic polymorphism, which impairs BDNF activity, is an important correlate of disturbed sleep. Further, the finding of significantly greater (p = ≤ 0.0001) depression scores among the insomnia group suggested that BDNF is an important factor in the development of depressive symptoms. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The results of the present study indicate that BDNF gene polymorphism plays a prominent role in the variation of symptoms among insomnia patients and, further, that this polymorphism is strongly related to the severity of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nevin F W Zaki
- Sleep Research Unit, Mansoura University, Egypt; Department of Psychiatry, Mansoura University, Egypt.
| | - Elsayed Saleh
- Department of Psychiatry, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | | | | | - John Zaki
- Department 0f Mechanical Engineering, Statistical Consultation Office, Mansoura University, Egypt
| | | | - Ahmed S BaHammam
- University Sleep Disorders Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Rodríguez-Rojo IC, Cuesta P, López ME, de Frutos-Lucas J, Bruña R, Pereda E, Barabash A, Montejo P, Montenegro-Peña M, Marcos A, López-Higes R, Fernández A, Maestú F. BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism and Gamma Band Disruption in Resting State Brain Functional Connectivity: A Magnetoencephalography Study in Cognitively Intact Older Females. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:684. [PMID: 30333719 PMCID: PMC6176075 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiological processes undermining brain functioning decades before the onset of the clinical symptoms associated with dementia are still not well understood. Several heritability studies have reported that the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Val66Met genetic polymorphism could contribute to the acceleration of cognitive decline in aging. This mutation may affect brain functional connectivity (FC), especially in those who are carriers of the BDNF Met allele. The aim of this work was to explore the influence of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in whole brain eyes-closed, resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) FC in a sample of 36 cognitively intact (CI) older females. All of them were ε3ε3 homozygotes for the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and were divided into two subgroups according to the presence of the Met allele: Val/Met group (n = 16) and Val/Val group (n = 20). They did not differ in age, years of education, Mini-Mental State Examination scores, or normalized hippocampal volumes. Our results showed reduced antero-posterior gamma band FC within the Val/Met genetic risk group, which may be caused by a GABAergic network impairment. Despite the lack of cognitive decline, these results might suggest a selective brain network vulnerability due to the carriage of the BDNF Met allele, which is linked to a potential progression to dementia. This neurophysiological signature, as tracked with MEG FC, indicates that age-related brain functioning changes could be mediated by the influence of particular genetic risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada C Rodríguez-Rojo
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Cuesta
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Electrical Engineering and Bioengineering Lab, Department of Industrial Engineering and IUNE, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - María Eugenia López
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaisalmer de Frutos-Lucas
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Biological and Health Psychology Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Bruña
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ernesto Pereda
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Electrical Engineering and Bioengineering Lab, Department of Industrial Engineering and IUNE, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ana Barabash
- Laboratory of Psychoneuroendocrinology and Genetics, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Montejo
- Center for the Prevention of Cognitive Impairment, Public Health Institute, Madrid-Salud, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Montenegro-Peña
- Center for the Prevention of Cognitive Impairment, Public Health Institute, Madrid-Salud, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Marcos
- Neurology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramón López-Higes
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Maestú
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Center for Biomedical Technology, Universidad Complutense and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
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28
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Toh YL, Ng T, Tan M, Tan A, Chan A. Impact of brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic polymorphism on cognition: A systematic review. Brain Behav 2018; 8:e01009. [PMID: 29858545 PMCID: PMC6043712 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Revised: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has an important role in the neurogenesis and neuroplasticity of the brain. This systematic review was designed to examine the association between BDNF Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphism and four cognitive domains-attention and concentration, executive function, verbal fluency, and memory, respectively. METHODOLOGY Primary literature search was performed using search engines such as PubMed and Scopus. Observational studies that evaluated the neurocognitive performances in relation to BDNF polymorphism within human subjects were included in this review, while animal studies, overlapping studies, and meta-analysis were excluded. RESULTS Forty of 82 reviewed studies (48.8%) reported an association between Val66Met polymorphism and neurocognitive domains. The proportion of the studies showing positive findings in cognitive performances between Val/Val homozygotes and Met carriers was comparable, at 30.5% and 18.3%, respectively. The highest percentage of positive association between Val66Met polymorphism and neurocognition was reported under the memory domain, with 26 of 63 studies (41.3%), followed by 18 of 47 studies (38.3%) under the executive function domain and four of 23 studies (17.4%) under the attention and concentration domain. There were no studies showing an association between Val66Met polymorphism and verbal fluency. In particular, Val/Val homozygotes performed better in tasks related to the memory domain, while Met carriers performed better in terms of executive function, in both healthy individuals and clinical populations. CONCLUSION While numerous studies report an association between Val66Met polymorphism and neurocognitive changes in executive function and memory domains, the effect of Met allele has not been clearly established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Long Toh
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of ScienceNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Terence Ng
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of ScienceNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Megan Tan
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of ScienceNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Azrina Tan
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of ScienceNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Alexandre Chan
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of ScienceNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Department of PharmacyNational Cancer Centre SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
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Vandenberg A, Lin WC, Tai LH, Ron D, Wilbrecht L. Mice engineered to mimic a common Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene show greater sensitivity to reversal in environmental contingencies. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2018; 34:34-41. [PMID: 29909248 PMCID: PMC6596311 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A new line of mice,Val68Met, mimic human BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. New knock-in BDNF Met mice reverse more efficiently than Val in two separate tasks. Supports theory that BDNF Met allele confers greater sensitivity to the environment. Reversal performance can be dissociated from go/no-go and extinction performance. Phenotypes differ between newer and older BDNF Val66Met mouse models.
A common human polymorphism in the gene that encodes brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Val66Met, is considered a marker of vulnerability for mental health issues and has been associated with cognitive impairment. An alternate framework has been proposed in which “risk alleles” are reinterpreted as “plasticity alleles” that confer vulnerability in adverse environments and positive effects in neutral or positive environments (Belsky et al., 2009). These frameworks produce divergent predictions for tests of learning and cognitive flexibility. Here, we examined multiple aspects of learning and cognitive flexibility in a relatively new BDNF Val66Met mouse model (BDNF Val68Met, Warnault et al., 2016), including multiple choice discrimination and reversal, go/no-go learning and reversal, and appetitive extinction learning. We found that mice homozygous for the Met allele show more efficient reversal learning in two different paradigms, but learn at rates comparable to Val homozygotes on the multiple choice discrimination task, a go/no-go task, and in appetitive extinction. Our results dissociate reversal performance from go/no-go learning and appetitive extinction and support the plasticity allele framework that suggests BDNF Met carriers are potentially more sensitive to changes in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Vandenberg
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Wan Chen Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Lung-Hao Tai
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Dorit Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Linda Wilbrecht
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA.
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30
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O'Shea DM, Fieo R, Woods A, Williamson J, Porges E, Cohen R. Discrepancies between crystallized and fluid ability are associated with frequency of social and physical engagement in community dwelling older adults. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2018; 40:963-970. [PMID: 29569517 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2018.1452195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Age differences have been noted in the discrepancies between crystallized and fluid ability (Gc-Gf). Larger Gc-Gf discrepancies have also been shown to be associated with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and clinical severity. However, little is known regarding the relationship between Gc-Gf discrepancies in normal aging and functional outcomes. The aim of the present study was to examine this. METHOD Data from 104 adults (Mage = 71.70 years, SD = 9.016) were included in the present study. Measures from the NIH toolbox were used to form the discrepancy scores. Physical, cognitive, and social activities were identified using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors activity questionnaire. Linear regression analyses, controlling for age, education, gender, health, and depressive symptoms, were used to examine the association between social, cognitive, and physical activities on Gc-Gf discrepancies. RESULTS Results showed that social and physical activity were significantly associated with greater discrepancies between crystallized and fluid ability, independent of covariates. There was no association between cognitive activity and Gc-Gf discrepancies. CONCLUSIONS Larger discrepancies between crystallized and fluid ability are related to frequency of social and physical activity. The findings support previous research that discrepancy scores may serve as a marker of cognitive decline. In more highly educated older individuals, Gc-Gf discrepancies may be a more accurate indicator of actual cognitive status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre M O'Shea
- a Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Robert Fieo
- a Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Adam Woods
- a Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - John Williamson
- a Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Eric Porges
- a Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Ron Cohen
- a Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
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Cintra MTG, Ávila RT, Soares TO, Cunha LCM, Silveira KD, de Moraes EN, Simas KR, Fernandes RB, Gonçalves DU, de Rezende NA, Bicalho MAC. Increased N200 and P300 latencies in cognitively impaired elderly carrying ApoE ε-4 allele. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2018; 33:e221-e227. [PMID: 28833437 DOI: 10.1002/gps.4773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the results of neuropsychological tests, evoked potentials N200 and P300 and polymorphisms of ApoE and BDNF rs6265 between patients with normal cognition and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of elderly individuals with normal cognition and those with MCI and AD, who were submitted to evoked potential tests (N200 and P300) by means of hearing stimuli based on the auditory oddball paradigm. Genotyping was obtained by using the real-time PCR technique. RESULTS Sixty-five patients were evaluated as follows: 14 controls, 34 with MCI and 17 with AD. N200 latency and P300 latency and amplitude were not associated with MCI and AD diagnosis. Patients with cognitive impairment (MCI or AD) showed increase in the latencies of P300 and N200. BNDF gene was not associated with cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION Latencies of N200 and P300 increased in cognitively impaired patients with the presence of ApoE ε-4 allele.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafaela Teixeira Ávila
- Neuropsychologist of Clinical Hospital of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thayana Oliveira Soares
- Molecular Medicine Postgraduate Program of Universidade Federal de Mina Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Katia Daniela Silveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Edgar Nunes de Moraes
- Department of Medical Clinic of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Kaique Roger Simas
- Medicine Student of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Denise Utsch Gonçalves
- Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Nilton Alves de Rezende
- Department of Medical Clinic of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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32
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Lee JG, Park MK, Kim YH, Kim YW, Jin K, Park SW, Seo MK, Kim YH. The Correlations among Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Performance and Serum BDNF Levels in the Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Psychiatry Investig 2018; 15:186-192. [PMID: 29475220 PMCID: PMC5900401 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2017.03.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 02/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the current study, we investigated whether there are relations among depressive symptoms, cognitive performance and serum BDNF levels in the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS Sixty patients with CKD and 65 healthy controls participated. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Mini-Mental State Examination included in the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (MMSE-KC) assessment packet was used for the evaluation of overall cognitive function. To assess memory function, the Korean version of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (K-HVLT) was used. BDNF levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. RESULTS The CKD patients showed more depressive symptoms when compared with controls. The depressive symptoms and cognitive function were not associated with serum BDNF levels in the CKD patients. CONCLUSION In the current study, CKD patients had more depressive symptoms when compared controls. However, the serum BDNF levels of CKD patients were not associated with depressive symptoms and cognitive functions. These findings suggested that the serum BDNF levels may not be reflect the cognitive function and depressive mood state in the CKD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Goo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.,Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.,Department of Health Science and Technology, Graduate School of Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Kyung Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Jurye Jayeon Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong Hoon Kim
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yang-Wook Kim
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyubok Jin
- Department of Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Woo Park
- Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.,Department of Health Science and Technology, Graduate School of Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.,Department of Convergence Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Kyoung Seo
- Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hoon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Gongju National Hospital, Gonju, Republic of Korea
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Jones NC, Hudson M, Foreman J, Rind G, Hill R, Manning EE, Buuse M. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor haploinsufficiency impairs high‐frequency cortical oscillations in mice. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 48:2816-2825. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nigel C. Jones
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
- Department of Neuroscience Central Clinical School Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Department of Neurology The Alfred Hospital Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Matthew Hudson
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
| | - Joshua Foreman
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
| | - Gil Rind
- Department of Medicine Melbourne Brain Centre Royal Melbourne Hospital University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. 3052 Australia
| | - Rachel Hill
- Department of Psychiatry Monash University Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Melbourne Brain Centre Florey Institutes of Neuroscience and Mental Health University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - Elizabeth E. Manning
- Melbourne Brain Centre Florey Institutes of Neuroscience and Mental Health University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - Maarten Buuse
- Melbourne Brain Centre Florey Institutes of Neuroscience and Mental Health University of Melbourne Parkville Vic. Australia
- School of Psychology and Public Health La Trobe University Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Department of Pharmacology University of Melbourne Melbourne Vic. Australia
- The College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Townsville QLD Australia
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Meng J, Hao L, Wei D, Sun J, Li Y, Qiu J. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism modulates the effect of loneliness on white matter microstructure in young adults. Biol Psychol 2017; 130:41-49. [PMID: 28988974 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Loneliness is a common experience. Susceptibility to loneliness is a stable trait and is heritable. Previous studies have suggested that loneliness may impact regional gray matter density and brain activation to social stimuli, but its relation to white matter structure and how it may interact with genetic factors remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether and how a common polymorphism (Val66Met) in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene modulated the association between loneliness and white matter microstructure in 162 young adults. The tract-based spatial statistics analyses revealed that the relationships between loneliness and white matter microstructures were significantly different between Val/Met heterozygotes and Val/Val homozygotes. Specifically, loneliness was significantly correlated with reduced fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity in widespread white matter fibers within Val/Met heterozygotes. It was also significantly correlated with increased radial diffusivity in Met/Met genotypes but showed no significant association with white matter measures in Val/Val genotypes. Furthermore, the associations between loneliness and fractional anisotropy (or radial diffusivity) in Val/Met heterozygotes turned out to be global effects. These results provide evidence that loneliness may interact with the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism to shape the microstructures of white matter, and the Val/Met heterozygotes may be more susceptible to social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Meng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lei Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Department of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiangzhou Sun
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yu Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
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Grant LK, Cain SW, Chang AM, Saxena R, Czeisler CA, Anderson C. Impaired cognitive flexibility during sleep deprivation among carriers of the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Val66Met allele. Behav Brain Res 2017; 338:51-55. [PMID: 28947280 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence points to a genetic contribution to explain inter-individual vulnerability to sleep deprivation. A functional polymorphism in the BDNF gene, which causes a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) amino acid substitution at Codon 66, has been associated with cognitive impairment, particularly in populations with impaired frontal functioning. We hypothesised that sleep deprivation, which affects frontal function, may lead to cognitive dysfunction in Met allele carriers. To examine this, we investigated, in different BDNF genotypes, the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive flexibility, as measured by response inhibition using the Stroop Color Naming Task. Thirty healthy, adults of European ancestry, including 12 heterozygous Met allele carriers and 18 Val/Val homozygotes, underwent 30-h of extended wakefulness under constant routine conditions. A computerised Stroop task was administered every 2h. Error rate and reaction times increased with time awake for all individuals. Participants with the Val/Met genotype made more errors on incongruent trials after 20h awake. While Val/Met participants also took significantly longer to respond when inhibiting a prepotent response irrespective of time awake, this was particularly evident during the biological night. Our study shows that carriers of the BDNF Met allele are more vulnerable to the impact of prolonged wakefulness and the biological night on a critical component of executive function, as measured by response inhibition on the Stroop task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilah K Grant
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Sean W Cain
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Sleep Health Institute and Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Chang
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Sleep Health Institute and Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richa Saxena
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Charles A Czeisler
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Sleep Health Institute and Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clare Anderson
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Sleep Health Institute and Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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36
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Hayes JP, Reagan A, Logue MW, Hayes SM, Sadeh N, Miller DR, Verfaellie M, Wolf EJ, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Stone A, Schichman SA, Miller MW. BDNF genotype is associated with hippocampal volume in mild traumatic brain injury. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2017; 17:107-117. [PMID: 28755387 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The negative long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have been a growing concern in recent years, with accumulating evidence suggesting that mTBI combined with additional vulnerability factors may induce neurodegenerative-type changes in the brain. However, the factors instantiating risk for neurodegenerative disease following mTBI are unknown. This study examined the link between mTBI and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype, which has previously been shown to regulate processes involved in neurodegeneration including synaptic plasticity and facilitation of neural survival through its expression. Specifically, we examined nine BDNF single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs908867, rs11030094, rs6265, rs10501087, rs1157659, rs1491850, rs11030107, rs7127507 and rs12273363) previously associated with brain atrophy or memory deficits in mTBI. Participants were 165 white, non-Hispanic Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans between the ages of 19 and 58, 110 of whom had at least one mTBI in their lifetime. Results showed that the BDNF SNP rs1157659 interacted with mTBI to predict hippocampal volume. Furthermore, exploratory analysis of functional resting state data showed that rs1157659 minor allele homozygotes with a history of mTBI had reduced functional connectivity in the default mode network compared to major allele homozygotes and heterozygotes. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) was not a significant predictor of hippocampal volume or functional connectivity. These results suggest that rs1157659 minor allele homozygotes may be at greater risk for neurodegeneration after exposure to mTBI and provide further evidence for a potential role for BDNF in regulating neural processes following mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Hayes
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Reagan
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M W Logue
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Biomedical Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - S M Hayes
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - N Sadeh
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychological and Brain Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - D R Miller
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Verfaellie
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - E J Wolf
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R E McGlinchey
- Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center and Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W P Milberg
- Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center and Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Stone
- Pharmacogenomics Analysis Laboratory, Research Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - S A Schichman
- Pharmacogenomics Analysis Laboratory, Research Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - M W Miller
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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37
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Christou AI, Wallis Y, Bair H, Zeegers M, McCleery JP. Serotonin 5-HTTLPR Genotype Modulates Reactive Visual Scanning of Social and Non-social Affective Stimuli in Young Children. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:118. [PMID: 28690502 PMCID: PMC5482294 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have documented the 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms as genetic variants that are involved in serotonin availability and also associated with emotion regulation and facial emotion processing. In particular, neuroimaging and behavioral studies of healthy populations have produced evidence to suggest that carriers of the Short allele exhibit heightened neurophysiological and behavioral reactivity when processing aversive stimuli, particularly in brain regions involved in fear. However, an additional distinction has emerged in the field, which highlights particular types of fearful information, i.e., aversive information which involves a social component versus non-social aversive stimuli. Although processing of each of these stimulus types (social and non-social) is believed to involve a subcortical neural system which includes the amygdala, evidence also suggests that the amygdala itself may be particularly responsive to socially significant environmental information, potentially due to the critical relevance of social information for humans. Examining individual differences in neurotransmitter systems which operate within this subcortical network, and in particular the serotonin system, may be critically informative for furthering our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying responses to emotional and affective stimuli. In the present study we examine visual scanning patterns in response to both aversive and positive images of a social or non-social nature in relation to 5-HTTLPR genotypes, in 49 children aged 4–7 years. Results indicate that children with at least one Short 5-HTTLPR allele spent less time fixating the threat-related non-social stimuli, compared with participants with two copies of the Long allele. Interestingly, a separate set of analyses suggests that carriers of two copies of the short 5-HTTLPR allele also spent less time fixating both the negative and positive non-social stimuli. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that genetically mediated differences in serotonin availability mediate behavioral responses to different types of emotional stimuli in young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios I Christou
- School of Applied Social Sciences, Division of Psychology, De Montfort UniversityLeicester, United Kingdom.,Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of BirminghamBirmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Yvonne Wallis
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's HospitalBirmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hayley Bair
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's HospitalBirmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Maurice Zeegers
- Department of Complex Genetics, Maastricht UniversityMaastricht, Netherlands
| | - Joseph P McCleery
- Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PhiladelphiaPA, United States
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38
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study aimed to explore cognitive outcomes after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) depending on which version of common single nucleotide polymorphisms the patient expressed for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). METHODS A total of 87 patients from the clinical ECT service in Aberdeen, Scotland, were included in the study. Cognitive function testing (using Spatial Recognition Memory task from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery and Mini-Mental State Examination) and mood ratings (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) were performed before ECT, after 4 treatments, at the end of ECT and 1 and 3 months after the end of treatment. These scores were compared depending on BDNF and COMT variant at each time point using the Student t test and using a time series generalized least squares random effects model. RESULTS No differences were found between the val and met versions of the BDNF or COMT polymorphism in either cognitive or mood outcomes at any time point during ECT treatment or up to 3 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This study did not detect significant differences in cognitive or mood outcomes between patients who have the val66val or met versions of the BDNF polymorphism. Our results suggest that these polymorphisms will not be helpful in clinical practice for predicting cognitive outcomes after ECT.
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39
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Chen W, Chen C, Xia M, Wu K, Chen C, He Q, Xue G, Wang W, He Y, Dong Q. Interaction Effects of BDNF and COMT Genes on Resting-State Brain Activity and Working Memory. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:540. [PMID: 27853425 PMCID: PMC5091010 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes have been found to interactively influence working memory (WM) as well as brain activation during WM tasks. However, whether the two genes have interactive effects on resting-state activities of the brain and whether these spontaneous activations correlate with WM are still unknown. This study included behavioral data from WM tasks and genetic data (COMT rs4680 and BDNF Val66Met) from 417 healthy Chinese adults and resting-state fMRI data from 298 of them. Significant interactive effects of BDNF and COMT were found for WM performance as well as for resting-state regional homogeneity (ReHo) in WM-related brain areas, including the left medial frontal gyrus (lMeFG), left superior frontal gyrus (lSFG), right superior and medial frontal gyrus (rSMFG), right medial orbitofrontal gyrus (rMOFG), right middle frontal gyrus (rMFG), precuneus, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, left superior occipital gyrus, right middle occipital gyrus, and right inferior parietal lobule. Simple effects analyses showed that compared to other genotypes, subjects with COMT-VV/BDNF-VV had higher WM and lower ReHo in all five frontal brain areas. The results supported the hypothesis that COMT and BDNF polymorphisms influence WM performance and spontaneous brain activity (i.e., ReHo).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Chunhui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Mingrui Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Karen Wu
- Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of CaliforniaIrvine, CA, USA
| | - Chuansheng Chen
- Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of CaliforniaIrvine, CA, USA
| | - Qinghua He
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest UniversityChongqing, China
| | - Gui Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
| | - Qi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China
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40
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Wegman J, Tyborowska A, Hoogman M, Arias Vásquez A, Janzen G. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism affects encoding of object locations during active navigation. Eur J Neurosci 2016; 45:1501-1511. [PMID: 27717213 PMCID: PMC5484279 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was shown to be involved in spatial memory and spatial strategy preference. A naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphism of the BDNF gene (Val66Met) affects activity‐dependent secretion of BDNF. The current event‐related fMRI study on preselected groups of ‘Met’ carriers and homozygotes of the ‘Val’ allele investigated the role of this polymorphism on encoding and retrieval in a virtual navigation task in 37 healthy volunteers. In each trial, participants navigated toward a target object. During encoding, three positional cues (columns) with directional cues (shadows) were available. During retrieval, the invisible target had to be replaced while either two objects without shadows (objects trial) or one object with a shadow (shadow trial) were available. The experiment consisted of blocks, informing participants of which trial type would be most likely to occur during retrieval. We observed no differences between genetic groups in task performance or time to complete the navigation tasks. The imaging results show that Met carriers compared to Val homozygotes activate the left hippocampus more during successful object location memory encoding. The observed effects were independent of non‐significant performance differences or volumetric differences in the hippocampus. These results indicate that variations of the BDNF gene affect memory encoding during spatial navigation, suggesting that lower levels of BDNF in the hippocampus results in less efficient spatial memory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Wegman
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Postbus 9104, Nijmegen, 6500 HE, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Tyborowska
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Postbus 9104, Nijmegen, 6500 HE, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Martine Hoogman
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Language and Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alejandro Arias Vásquez
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gabriele Janzen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Postbus 9104, Nijmegen, 6500 HE, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500 HB, The Netherlands
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41
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Enge S, Fleischhauer M, Gärtner A, Reif A, Lesch KP, Kliegel M, Strobel A. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Val66Met) and Serotonin Transporter (5-HTTLPR) Polymorphisms Modulate Plasticity in Inhibitory Control Performance Over Time but Independent of Inhibitory Control Training. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:370. [PMID: 27524961 PMCID: PMC4966207 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies reported training-induced improvements in executive function tasks and also observed transfer to untrained tasks. However, the results are mixed and there is a large interindividual variability within and across studies. Given that training-related performance changes would require modification, growth or differentiation at the cellular and synaptic level in the brain, research on critical moderators of brain plasticity potentially explaining such changes is needed. In the present study, a pre-post-follow-up design (N = 122) and a 3-weeks training of two response inhibition tasks (Go/NoGo and Stop-Signal) was employed and genetic variation (Val66Met) in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoting differentiation and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity was examined. Because Serotonin (5-HT) signaling and the interplay of BDNF and 5-HT are known to critically mediate brain plasticity, genetic variation in the 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) was also addressed. The overall results show that the kind of training (i.e., adaptive vs. non-adaptive) did not evoke genotype-dependent differences. However, in the Go/NoGo task, better inhibition performance (lower commission errors) were observed for BDNF Val/Val genotype carriers compared to Met-allele ones supporting similar findings from other cognitive tasks. Additionally, a gene-gene interaction suggests a more impulsive response pattern (faster responses accompanied by higher commission error rates) in homozygous l-allele carriers relative to those with the s-allele of 5-HTTLPR. This, however, is true only in the presence of the Met-allele of BDNF, while the Val/Val genotype seems to compensate for such non-adaptive responding. Intriguingly, similar results were obtained for the Stop-Signal task. Here, differences emerged at post-testing, while no differences were observed at T1. In sum, although no genotype-dependent differences between the relevant training groups emerged suggesting no changes in the trained inhibition function, the observed genotype-dependent performance changes from pre- to post measurement may reflect rapid learning or memory effects linked to BDNF and 5-HTTLPR. In line with ample evidence on BDNF and BDNF-5-HT system interactions to induce (rapid) plasticity especially in hippocampal regions and in response to environmental demands, the findings may reflect genotype-dependent differences in the acquisition and consolidation of task-relevant information, thereby facilitating a more adaptive responding to task-specific requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Enge
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenDresden, Germany
| | - Monika Fleischhauer
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenDresden, Germany
- Department of Psychology, PFH Private Hochschule GöttingenGöttingen, Germany
| | - Anne Gärtner
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenDresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital FrankfurtFrankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of WuerzburgWuerzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kliegel
- Department of Psychology, University of GenevaGeneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Strobel
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität DresdenDresden, Germany
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42
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Lack of an association of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and plasma BDNF with hippocampal volume and memory. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2016; 15:625-43. [PMID: 25784293 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-015-0343-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to be important for neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus in nonhuman animals. The Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene, involving a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) substitution at codon 66, has been associated with lower BDNF secretion in vitro. However, there have been mixed results regarding associations between either circulating BDNF or the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism with hippocampal volume and memory in humans. The current study examined the association of BDNF genotype and plasma BDNF with hippocampal volume and memory in two large independent cohorts of middle-aged and older adults (both cognitively normal and early-stage dementia). Sample sizes ranged from 123 to 649. Measures of the BDNF genotype, plasma BDNF, MRI-based hippocampal volume, and memory performance were obtained from the Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). There were no significant differences between BDNF Met+ and Met- groups on either hippocampal volume or memory in either cohort. In addition, plasma BDNF was not significantly associated with either hippocampal volume or memory in either cohort. Neither age, cognitive status, nor gender moderated any of the relationships. Overall, current findings suggest that BDNF genotype and plasma BDNF may not be robust predictors for variance in hippocampal volume and memory in middle age and older adult cohorts.
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43
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Chen CC, Chen CJ, Wu D, Chi NF, Chen PC, Liao YP, Chiu HW, Hu CJ. BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism on Functional MRI During n-Back Working Memory Tasks. Medicine (Baltimore) 2015; 94:e1586. [PMID: 26496261 PMCID: PMC4620795 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000001586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Val66Met polymorphism on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is associated with hippocampal pathology and impaired episodic memory. However, the influence of this polymorphism on working memory (WM) performance and patterns of brain activation is controversial. This study investigated the effects of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during n-back WM tasks in healthy middle-aged adults.A total of 110 participants without subjective or objective cognitive impairment underwent BDNF genotyping. Eleven Met allele carriers and 9 noncarriers underwent fMRI during WM tasks.The WM performance was similar between the 2 groups. Increased brain activation in response to increases in WM loads was observed in both groups. The Met allele carrier group showed consistently lower brain activation in the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and the middle occipital gyrus than that of the noncarrier group (P < 0.001). No brain region showed increased activation during WM tasks in the Met allele group.BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may affect the WM network. Met allele carriers have lower brain activation in the right SFG and middle occipital gyrus than do noncarriers during WM tasks. Defective development of the WM network during brain maturation or differentiation is a possible mechanism. Additional studies with a larger sample and longer follow-up period are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chung Chen
- From the Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei (CCC, HWC); Department of Neurology (CCC, DW, NFC, PCC, CJH); Department of Radiology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan (CJC, YPL); Human Brain Research Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan (YPL); Department of Neurology, Medical School, Taipei Medical University, Taipei (CJH); and Brain and Consciousness Research Center, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan (CJH)
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44
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Christou AI, Wallis Y, Bair H, Crawford H, Frisson S, Zeegers MP, McCleery JP. BDNF Val(66)Met and 5-HTTLPR Genotype are Each Associated with Visual Scanning Patterns of Faces in Young Children. Front Behav Neurosci 2015. [PMID: 26217202 PMCID: PMC4500100 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have documented both neuroplasticity-related BDNF Val(66)Met and emotion regulation-related 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms as genetic variants that contribute to the processing of emotions from faces. More specifically, research has shown the BDNF Met allele and the 5-HTTLPR Short allele to be associated with mechanisms of negative affectivity that relate to susceptibility for psychopathology. We examined visual scanning pathways in response to angry, happy, and neutral faces in relation to BDNF Val(66)Met and 5-HTTLPR genotyping in 49 children aged 4-7 years. Analyses revealed that variations in the visual processing of facial expressions of anger interacted with BDNF Val(66)Met genotype, such that children who carried at least one low neuroplasticity Met allele exhibited a vigilance-avoidance pattern of visual scanning compared to homozygotes for the high neuroplasticity Val allele. In a separate investigation of eye gaze towards the eye versus mouth regions of neutral faces, we observed that short allele 5-HTTLPR carriers exhibited reduced looking at the eye region compared with those with the higher serotonin uptake Long allele. Together, these findings suggest that genetic mechanisms early in life may influence the establishment of patterns of visual scanning of environmental stressors, which in conjunction with other factors such as negative life events, may lead to psychological difficulties and disorders in the later adolescent and adult years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yvonne Wallis
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust , Birmingham , UK
| | - Hayley Bair
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust , Birmingham , UK
| | - Hayley Crawford
- Centre for Research in Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement, Coventry University , Coventry , UK ; Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
| | - Steven Frisson
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
| | - Maurice P Zeegers
- Department of Complex Genetics, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University , Maastricht , Netherlands
| | - Joseph P McCleery
- School of Psychology, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK ; Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia, PA , USA
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45
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Satterfield BC, Wisor JP, Field SA, Schmidt MA, Van Dongen HPA. TNFα G308A polymorphism is associated with resilience to sleep deprivation-induced psychomotor vigilance performance impairment in healthy young adults. Brain Behav Immun 2015; 47:66-74. [PMID: 25542735 PMCID: PMC4467999 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokines such as TNFα play an integral role in sleep/wake regulation and have recently been hypothesized to be involved in cognitive impairment due to sleep deprivation. We examined the effect of a guanine to adenine substitution at position 308 in the TNFα gene (TNFα G308A) on psychomotor vigilance performance impairment during total sleep deprivation. A total of 88 healthy women and men (ages 22-40) participated in one of five laboratory total sleep deprivation experiments. Performance on a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) was measured every 2-3h. The TNFα 308A allele, which is less common than the 308G allele, was associated with greater resilience to psychomotor vigilance performance impairment during total sleep deprivation (regardless of time of day), and also provided a small performance benefit at baseline. The effect of genotype on resilience persisted when controlling for between-subjects differences in age, gender, race/ethnicity, and baseline sleep duration. The TNFα G308A polymorphism predicted less than 10% of the overall between-subjects variance in performance impairment during sleep deprivation. Nonetheless, the differential effect of the polymorphism at the peak of performance impairment was more than 50% of median performance impairment at that time, which is sizeable compared to the effects of other genotypes reported in the literature. Our findings provided evidence for a role of TNFα in the effects of sleep deprivation on psychomotor vigilance performance. Furthermore, the TNFα G308A polymorphism may have predictive potential in a biomarker panel for the assessment of resilience to psychomotor vigilance performance impairment due to sleep deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brieann C Satterfield
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan P Wisor
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA; College of Medical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA.
| | - Stephanie A Field
- Internal Medicine Residency, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michelle A Schmidt
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA; College of Medical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Hans P A Van Dongen
- Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA; College of Medical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
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46
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Legge RM, Sendi S, Cole JH, Cohen-Woods S, Costafreda SG, Simmons A, Farmer AE, Aitchison KJ, McGuffin P, Fu CHY. Modulatory effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism on prefrontal regions in major depressive disorder. Br J Psychiatry 2015; 206:379-84. [PMID: 25745134 PMCID: PMC4416135 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.143529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism contributes to the development of depression (major depressive disorder, MDD), but it is unclear whether neural effects observed in healthy individuals are sustained in MDD. AIMS To investigate BDNF Val66Met effects on key regions in MDD neurocircuitry: amygdala, anterior cingulate, middle frontal and orbitofrontal regions. METHOD Magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired in 79 persons with MDD (mean age 49 years) and 74 healthy volunteers (mean age 50 years). Effects on surface area and cortical thickness were examined with multiple comparison correction. RESULTS People who were Met allele carriers showed reduced caudal middle frontal thickness in both study groups. Significant interaction effects were found in the anterior cingulate and rostral middle frontal regions, in which participants in the MDD group who were Met carriers showed the greatest reduction in surface area. CONCLUSIONS Modulatory effects of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on distinct subregions in the prefrontal cortex in MDD support the neurotrophin model of depression.
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Ullman MT, Pullman MY. A compensatory role for declarative memory in neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 51:205-22. [PMID: 25597655 PMCID: PMC4359651 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Most research on neurodevelopmental disorders has focused on their abnormalities. However, what remains intact may also be important. Increasing evidence suggests that declarative memory, a critical learning and memory system in the brain, remains largely functional in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders. Because declarative memory remains functional in these disorders, and because it can learn and retain numerous types of information, functions, and tasks, this system should be able to play compensatory roles for multiple types of impairments across the disorders. Here, we examine this hypothesis for specific language impairment, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. We lay out specific predictions for the hypothesis and review existing behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging evidence. Overall, the evidence suggests that declarative memory indeed plays compensatory roles for a range of impairments across all five disorders. Finally, we discuss diagnostic, therapeutic and other implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Ullman
- Brain and Language Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Box 571464, Washington, DC 20057-1464, United States.
| | - Mariel Y Pullman
- Brain and Language Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Box 571464, Washington, DC 20057-1464, United States
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48
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Conway CC, Slavich GM, Hammen C. Dysfunctional Attitudes and Affective Responses to Daily Stressors: Separating Cognitive, Genetic, and Clinical Influences on Stress Reactivity. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2014; 39:366-377. [PMID: 27041782 DOI: 10.1007/s10608-014-9657-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of research examining diathesis-stress models of emotional disorders, it remains unclear whether dysfunctional attitudes interact with stressful experiences to shape affect on a daily basis and, if so, how clinical and genetic factors influence these associations. To address these issues, we conducted a multi-level daily diary study that examined how dysfunctional attitudes and stressful events relate to daily fluctuations in negative and positive affect in 104 young adults. Given evidence that clinical and genetic factors underlie stress sensitivity, we also examined how daily affect is influenced by internalizing and externalizing symptoms and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype, which have been shown to influence neural, endocrine, and affective responses to stress. In multivariate models, internalizing symptoms and BDNF Val66Met genotype independently predicted heightened negative affect on stressful days, but dysfunctional attitudes did not. Specifically, the BDNF Met allele and elevated baseline internalizing symptomatology predicted greater increases in negative affect in stressful circumstances. These data are the first to demonstrate that BDNF genotype and stress are jointly associated with daily fluctuations in negative affect, and they challenge the assumption that maladaptive beliefs play a strong independent role in determining affective responses to everyday stressors. The results may thus inform the development of new multi-level theories of psychopathology and guide future research on predictors of affective lability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher C Conway
- Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - George M Slavich
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Constance Hammen
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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49
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Lamb YN, McKay NS, Thompson CS, Hamm JP, Waldie KE, Kirk IJ. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism, human memory, and synaptic neuroplasticity. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2014; 6:97-108. [PMID: 26263066 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Some people have much better memory than others, and there is compelling evidence that a considerable proportion of this variation in memory ability is genetically inherited. A form of synaptic plasticity known as long-term potentiation (LTP) is the principal candidate mechanism underlying memory formation in neural circuits, and it might be expected, therefore, that a genetic influence on the degree of LTP might in turn influence memory abilities. Of the genetic variations thought to significantly influence mnemonic ability in humans, the most likely to have its effect via LTP is a single nucleotide polymorphism affecting brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF (Val66Met)]. However, although it is likely that BDNF influences memory via a modulation of acute plasticity (i.e., LTP), BDNF also has considerable influence on structural development of neural systems. Thus, the influence of BDNF (Val66Met) on mnemonic performance via influences of brain structure as well as function must also be considered. In this brief review, we will describe the phenomenon of LTP and its study in non-human animals. We will discuss the relatively recent attempts to translate this work to studies in humans. We will describe how this has enabled investigation of the effect of the BDNF polymorphism on LTP, on brain structure, and on memory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette N Lamb
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nicole S McKay
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Jeffrey P Hamm
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Karen E Waldie
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ian J Kirk
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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50
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Chumbley J, Späti J, Dörig N, Brakowski J, Grosse Holtforth M, Seifritz E, Spinelli S. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism influence on striatal blood-level-dependent response to monetary feedback depends on valence and agency. Neuroscience 2014; 280:130-41. [PMID: 25234319 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Revised: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Animal work implicates the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in function of the ventral striatum (VS), a region known for its role in processing valenced feedback. Recent evidence in humans shows that BDNF Val66Met polymorphism modulates VS activity in anticipation of monetary feedback. However, it remains unclear whether the polymorphism impacts the processing of self-attributed feedback differently from feedback attributed to an external agent. In this study, we emphasize the importance of the feedback attribution because agency is central to computational accounts of the striatum and cognitive accounts of valence processing. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a task, in which financial gains/losses are either attributable to performance (self-attributed, SA) or chance (externally-attributed, EA) to ask whether BDNF Val66Met polymorphism predicts VS activity. We found that BDNF Val66Met polymorphism influenced how feedback valence and agency information were combined in the VS and in the right inferior frontal junction (IFJ). Specifically, Met carriers' VS response to valenced feedback depended on agency information, while Val/Val carriers' VS response did not. This context-specific modulation of valence effectively amplified VS responses to SA losses in Met carriers. The IFJ response to SA losses also differentiated Val/Val from Met carriers. These results may point to a reduced allocation of attention and altered motivational salience to SA losses in Val/Val compared to Met carriers. Implications for major depressive disorder are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chumbley
- Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Späti
- Department of Psychophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - N Dörig
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center, University and ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - J Brakowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Grosse Holtforth
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - E Seifritz
- Neuroscience Center, University and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S Spinelli
- Neuroscience Center, University and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Preclinical Laboratory for Translational Research into Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
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