title: Phobic anxiety in late-life in relationship to cognition and 5HTTLPR polymorphism.
abstract: Anxiety in late-life may functionally impair the older adult. In this study the polymorphic region 5HTTLPR of the SLC6A4 gene was examined in relation to phobic anxiety and cognitive function. Sixty-four community-dwelling older adults were genotyped for the 5HTTLPR polymorphism to examine whether late-life phobias are associated with the short (s) allele and whether cognitive impairment may precipitate phobic behaviors in association with the s allele. Our findings suggested that phobic anxiety symptoms are significantly related to lower cognitive function. However, in this sample we did not detect a significant association between phobic anxiety and the 5HTTLPR genotype. The interaction between age-related changes in cognition and anxiety remain an important area for future studies.
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Vicki L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Ellingrod
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins