CDH13 is associated with working memory performance in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
A Arias-Vásquez1, M E Altink, N N J Rommelse
1Department of Psychiatry (966), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Genes, Brain, and Behavior
|August 6, 2011
Summary
This study links the CDH13 gene to verbal working memory performance in individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Findings suggest CDH13 may influence neurocognitive functions relevant to ADHD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Genetic factors, including the CDH13 gene, are implicated in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) susceptibility.
- CDH13 encodes cadherin 13, a protein involved in neural cell growth and cell-cell adhesion.
- Executive functions are recognized as potential endophenotypes for ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between genetic variations in CDH13 and performance on executive functioning tasks in ADHD.
- To explore the role of CDH13 in neurocognitive processes related to ADHD.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 2632 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within and around the CDH13 gene in 190 Dutch ADHD probands from the IMAGE project.
- Assessed three executive functions: inhibition, verbal working memory (WM), and visuo-spatial WM using adjusted linear regression.
- Employed stringent permutation steps for multiple testing correction.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between intronic SNP rs11150556 and performance on the Verbal WM task.
- Suggestive evidence for association was observed for a SNP block upstream of rs111500556 with Verbal WM performance.
- No other SNPs reached gene-wide significance for any of the executive functioning traits.
Conclusions:
- This research is the first to explore the relationship between CDH13 and neurocognitive functioning in ADHD.
- The findings provide preliminary evidence supporting a link between CDH13 and verbal working memory, a key executive function.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms connecting CDH13, verbal WM, and the clinical phenotype of ADHD.
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