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COMT gene polymorphism is associated with declarative memory in adulthood and old age.
Cindy M de Frias1, Kristina Annerbrink, Lars Westberg
1Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. Cindy.de.Frias@neurotec.ki.se
Behavior Genetics
|August 21, 2004
Summary
Genetic variations in the catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene influence memory. Individuals with the Met/Met genotype showed better episodic recall compared to Val allele carriers across adulthood and old age.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Genetic factors significantly influence individual differences in memory performance.
- The catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene plays a crucial role in dopamine metabolism within the prefrontal cortex, impacting cognitive functions.
- Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter involved in various cognitive processes, including memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a specific COMT gene polymorphism on memory performance and its changes over time in adulthood and old age.
- To determine if COMT genotype influences episodic and semantic memory recall and recognition.
- To examine these effects across different adult age groups and over a longitudinal period.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study design was employed, following 286 men aged 35-85 years from the Betula prospective cohort.
- Participants underwent episodic and semantic memory testing on two occasions, separated by a 5-year interval.
- Genotyping for the COMT gene polymorphism (Met/Met vs. Val allele carriers) was performed.
Main Results:
- Individuals with the COMT Met/Met genotype (low enzyme activity) demonstrated superior performance in both episodic and semantic memory compared to Val allele carriers (higher enzyme activity).
- This performance difference was specifically observed in episodic recall tasks, not in recognition tasks.
- The observed genetic effect on episodic recall was consistent across middle-aged, young-old, and old-old adult groups and persisted over the 5-year study duration.
Conclusions:
- The COMT gene polymorphism is a significant genetic factor contributing to individual variability in memory functioning throughout adulthood and into old age.
- Specifically, the COMT genotype influences episodic memory recall, highlighting its role in the retrieval of past events.
- These findings underscore the importance of genetic predispositions in maintaining cognitive health and memory capabilities across the lifespan.