The Val/Met Polymorphism of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Gene Predicts Decline in Perceptual Speed in Older Adults

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, and contributes to learning and memory. We investigated whether a common Val66Met missense polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene is associated with individual differences in cognitive decline (marked by pe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology and aging 2014-06, Vol.29 (2), p.384-392
Main Authors: Ghisletta, Paolo, Bäckman, Lars, Bertram, Lars, Brandmaier, Andreas Markus, Gerstorf, Denis, Liu, Tian, Lindenberger, Ulman
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Ageing
Aging
Aging - genetics
Aging - physiology
Aging - psychology
BDNF Val/Met polymorphism
Berlin
Berlin Aging Study
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - genetics
Cognition - physiology
Cognitive Ability
cognitive decline
Cognitive Processing Speed
Dementia
Elderly people
Female
Genes
Genetics
Homozygote
Human
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Methionine - genetics
Mutation, Missense - genetics
Nervous system
Older people
Perceptual speed
Polymorphism
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Reaction Time - genetics
Reaction Time - physiology
Risk factors
Sex Characteristics
Social Class
Valine - genetics
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Summary:The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, and contributes to learning and memory. We investigated whether a common Val66Met missense polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene is associated with individual differences in cognitive decline (marked by perceptual speed) in old age. A total of 376 participants of the Berlin Aging Study, with a mean age of 83.9 years at first occasion, were assessed longitudinally up to 11 times across more than 13 years on the Digit-Letter task. Met carriers (n = 123, 34%) showed steeper linear decline than Val homozygotes (n = 239, 66%); the corresponding contrast explained 2.20% of the variance in change in the entire sample, and 3.41% after excluding individuals at risk for dementia. These effects were not moderated by sex or socioeconomic status. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that normal aging magnifies the effects of common genetic variation on cognitive functioning.
ISSN:0882-7974
1939-1498
1939-1498
DOI:10.1037/a0035201