title: Association study of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and apolipoprotein E polymorphisms and cognitive function in aged males without dementia.
abstract: Genetic factors for inter-individual variation in cognition have been arousing great interest among researchers. Among the many associated genes, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apolipoprotein E (APOE), as two of the most frequently studied, might be good prospects for cognitive genetics. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate both the isolated and cooperative effect of BDNF and APOE on normal cognitive ageing. A homogeneous population of Chinese aged males (N=161) were genotyped for functional genetic variants of BDNF (BDNF-G196A) and APOE (APOE-epsilon4) and assessed by a comprehensive neuropsychological measurement (Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument Chinese version; CASI C-2.0). Thereafter genotypic group differences of BDNF and APOE in CASI cognitive profiles were tested. Results from the present study suggest the possible influence of APOE on specific cognitive domains (CASI orientation and language domains; p=0.010 and 0.028, respectively), whereas there was no significant role of BDNF, either solely or with APOE, in cognition in the elderly. Our findings suggest a possible association between APOE-epsilon4 and specific cognitive domains in the aged male, whereas the functional genetic variant of BDNF (BDNF-G196A) played no significant role in normal cognitive ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, No. 201, Shih-Pai Road, Sec. 2, 11217 Taipei, Taiwan. sjtsai@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yung-Tian A
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Gau
authors.forename: Mu-En
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ying-Jay
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Chen-Jee
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor