title: The Val/Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene predicts decline in perceptual speed in older adults.
abstract: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, and contributes to learning and memory. We investigated whether a common Val66Met missense polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene is associated with individual differences in cognitive decline (marked by perceptual speed) in old age. A total of 376 participants of the Berlin Aging Study, with a mean age of 83.9 years at first occasion, were assessed longitudinally up to 11 times across more than 13 years on the Digit-Letter task. Met carriers (n = 123, 34%) showed steeper linear decline than Val homozygotes (n = 239, 66%); the corresponding contrast explained 2.20% of the variance in change in the entire sample, and 3.41% after excluding individuals at risk for dementia. These effects were not moderated by sex or socioeconomic status. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that normal aging magnifies the effects of common genetic variation on cognitive functioning.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghisletta
authors.affiliation: Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institute.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Genetics Group, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.affiliation: Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development.
authors.forename: Andreas Markus
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brandmaier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Humboldt University.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerstorf
authors.affiliation: Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development.
authors.forename: Ulman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindenberger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001604:Berlin; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics*; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine