The prion gene is associated with human long-term memory.
Human cognitive processes are highly variable across individuals and are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Although genetic variations affect short-term memory in humans, it is unknown whether genetic variability has also an impact on long-term memory. Because prion-like conformational changes may be involved in the induction of long-lasting synaptic plasticity, we examined the impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the prion protein gene (PRNP) on long-term memory in healthy young humans. SNPs in the genomic region of PRNP were associated with better long-term memory performance in two independent populations with different educational background. Among the examined PRNP SNPs, the common Met129Val polymorphism yielded the highest effect size. Twenty-four hours after a word list-learning task, carriers of either the 129MM or the 129MV genotype recalled 17% more information than 129VV carriers, but short-term memory was unaffected. These results suggest a role for the prion protein in the formation of long-term memory in humans.
Division of Psychiatry Research, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland. papas@bli.unizh.ch
Andreas
A
Papassotiropoulos
M Axel
MA
Wollmer
Adriano
A
Aguzzi
Christoph
C
Hock
Roger M
RM
Nitsch
Dominique J-F
DJ
de Quervain
D000328:Adult; D000682:Amyloid / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*
D000682:Amyloid; C512656:PRNP protein, human; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions; D011498:Protein Precursors