Effects of age, genes, and pulse pressure on executive functions in healthy adults

Abstract Executive functions (EF) evidence significant age-related declines, but the mechanisms underpinning those changes are unclear. In this study, we focus on two potential sources of variation: a physiological indicator of vascular health, and genetic variants related to vascular functions. In...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurobiology of aging 2011-06, Vol.32 (6), p.1124-1137
Main Authors: Raz, Naftali, Dahle, Cheryl L, Rodrigue, Karen M, Kennedy, Kristen M, Land, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACE
Adult
Aged
Aging
Aging - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Pressure - genetics
Blood Pressure - physiology
Catechol O-Methyltransferase - genetics
COMT
Development. Senescence. Regeneration. Transplantation
DNA Mutational Analysis - methods
Executive Function - physiology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Internal Medicine
Judgment - physiology
Male
Memory, Short-Term - physiology
Middle Aged
Neurology
Neuropsychological Tests
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A - genetics
Polymorphism
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Reaction Time - genetics
Reaction Time - physiology
Sex Characteristics
Sphygmomanometers
Vascular risk
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Working memory
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Summary:Abstract Executive functions (EF) evidence significant age-related declines, but the mechanisms underpinning those changes are unclear. In this study, we focus on two potential sources of variation: a physiological indicator of vascular health, and genetic variants related to vascular functions. In a sample of healthy adults ( n = 158, ages 18–81), we examine the effects of age, pulse pressure, and two polymorphisms ( comt val158met and ace insertion/deletion) on working memory and cognitive flexibility. Results indicate that in addition to often-replicated age differences, the alleles of two polymorphisms that promote vasoconstriction ( comt val and ace D) and reduced availability of dopamine in neocortical synapses ( comt val), negatively impact virtually all aspects of EF tasks that involve working memory. In some cases, suppression of cognitive performance is limited to men or necessitates a combination of both risk-associated alleles. After accounting for genetic and age-related variation, pulse pressure had no additional effect on EF. These findings suggest that in healthy adults, the effects of genetic risk factors significantly modulate the course of cognitive aging.
ISSN:0197-4580
1558-1497
DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.05.015