Estrogen receptor alpha and risk for cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women.
The estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene has been implicated in the process of cognitive impairment in elderly women. In a paired case-control study, we tested whether two ESR1 gene polymorphisms (the XbaI and PvuII sites) are risk factors for cognitive impairment as measured by the six-item Orientation-Memory-Concentration test in postmenopausal Danish women. Hormone replacement therapy, age and executive cognitive ability were examined as covariates for ESR1 gene effects on cognitive impairment. The XbaI polymorphism showed a marginal effect on cognitive abilities (P=0.054) when adjusted for executive cognitive ability. Using a dominant genetic model for the X allele, we found an elevated risk (executive cognitive ability adjusted P=0.033) for cognitive impairment. Hormone replacement therapy also had a borderline effect on cognitive ability (P=0.049) and this effect was reflected in executive cognitive ability. These data support that the ESR1 gene variants affect cognitive functioning in postmenopausal women.
Olsen
Line
L
Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
Rasmussen
Henrik B
HB
Hansen
Thomas
T
Bagger
Yu Z
YZ
Tankó
László B
LB
Qin
Gerong
G
Christiansen
Claus
C
Werge
Thomas
T
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D003718:Denmark; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology; D011581:Psychological Tests
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; C025580:endodeoxyribonuclease XBAI; C025630:CAGCTG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific