title: The TNF-alpha-238G > a single-nucleotide polymorphism protects against memory decline in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Inflammatory markers predict memory dysfunction in elderly patients, but their contribution to memory deficits in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is less well understood. The present study determined whether specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) predict verbal memory in older patients with T2DM. Immediate and delayed verbal memory were assessed using word list and paragraph recall tests in a cohort of subjects with T2DM during 2 sessions, separated by 48 weeks. The presence of the TNF-alpha-238A allele, which has been shown to decrease gene expression, consistently predicted better baseline performance and protected against memory decline over a period of 48 weeks. Therefore, inflammatory mediators may be important modulators of memory function in individuals with T2DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.forename: Yanni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fontaine-Bisson
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.forename: Thomas M S
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wolever
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Sohemy
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chiasson
authors.forename: Remi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabasa-Lhoret
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maheux
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Carol E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha