title: Association study of a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase-gene polymorphism and cognitive function in healthy females.
abstract: Using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, it has been determined, that the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genetic polymorphism, a functional polymorphism that may affect dopamine metabolism, is associated with prefrontal cognitive function. This study of a cohort of 120 healthy young Chinese females attempted to utilize P300 event-related potentials to replicate this finding and to test the relationship between this COMT polymorphism and cortical physiology. The results demonstrate that subjects bearing the Met/Met homozygote have significantly lower mean P300 latencies than do analogs bearing the Val allele. A significant association between this COMT polymorphism and perseverative errors was not demonstrated in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, however. We suggest that, although the COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism may play a role in cognitive function, ethnicity and testing method may affect the association. Since statistical relationships between P300 components and both the COMT genetic polymorphism and schizophrenic disorders have been demonstrated, it seems reasonable to suggest that this COMT genetic variant may affect the P300 abnormality in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, No. 201 Shih-Pai Road, Sec. 2, 11217, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. sjtsai@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Shih Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Younger W-Y
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Tai Jui
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jen Yeu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ying Jay
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Ming Chao
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chen Jee
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase