title: Less cognitive and neurological deficits in schizophrenia patients carrying risk variant in ZNF804A.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rs1344706 single nucleotide polymorphism in the ZNF804A gene is a common variant with strong evidence for association with schizophrenia. Recent studies show an association of rs1344706 with cognitive functioning, and there is some evidence suggesting that the risk allele may increase susceptibility for a subtype of schizophrenia with relatively spared cognition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested the effect of rs1344706 genotype in 89 schizophrenia patients on 3 basic cognitive domains (working memory, processing speed and attention) shown to be severely impaired in schizophrenia. Also we investigated the effect of rs1344706 on the severity of neurological soft signs, subtle impairments in motor and sensory functions highly frequent in schizophrenia patients. Neurological soft signs and cognitive deficits are central features of schizophrenia and are tightly linked with clinical, social and functional outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show an association of higher rs1344706 risk allele load with improved performance on processing speed and with fewer neurological soft signs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Together with other studies, our findings suggest that ZNF804A is associated with a subtype of schizophrenia with better cognitive and neurological functioning. Discovery of the specific pathways through which ZNF804A is exerting this effect may lead to better prevention, diagnosis and treatment for a specific group of schizophrenia patients.
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Genomics Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maarten J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Van Den Bossche
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Docx
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morrens
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cammaerts
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strazisar
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bervoets
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smolders
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Depreeuw
authors.forename: An-Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lenaerts
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Rijk
authors.forename: Jurgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del-Favero
authors.forename: Bernard G C
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sabbe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C540527:ZNF804A protein, human