title: BDNF val66met polymorphism affects aging of multiple types of memory.
abstract: The BDNF val66met polymorphism (rs6265) influences activity-dependent secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the synapse, which is crucial for learning and memory. Individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the met allele have lower BDNF secretion than val homozygotes and may be at risk for reduced declarative memory performance, but it remains unclear which types of declarative memory may be affected and how aging of memory across the lifespan is impacted by the BDNF val66met polymorphism. This cross-sectional study investigated the effects of BDNF polymorphism on multiple indices of memory (item, associative, prospective, subjective complaints) in a lifespan sample of 116 healthy adults aged 20-93 years. Advancing age showed a negative effect on item, associative and prospective memory, but not on subjective memory complaints. For item and prospective memory, there were significant age×BDNF group interactions, indicating the adverse effect of age on memory performance across the lifespan was much stronger in the BDNF met carriers than for the val homozygotes. BDNF met carriers also endorsed significantly greater subjective memory complaints, regardless of age, and showed a trend (p<.07) toward poorer associative memory performance compared to val homozygotes. These results suggest that genetic predisposition to the availability of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, by way of the BDNF val66met polymorphism, exerts an influence on multiple indices of episodic memory - in some cases in all individuals regardless of age (subjective memory and perhaps associative memory), in others as an exacerbation of age-related differences in memory across the lifespan (item and prospective memory). This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Memory & Aging.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States. Electronic address: Kristen.kennedy1@utdallas.edu.
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States.
authors.forename: Marci M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States.
authors.forename: April N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Sizemore
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States.
authors.forename: Asha K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Unni
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Meerbrey
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States.
authors.forename: Allan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kalich
authors.affiliation: Center for Vital Longevity, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 1600 Viceroy Dr., Ste 800, Dallas, TX 75235, United States.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rodrigue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine
keywords: Aging; Associative memory; BDNF val66met polymorphism; Episodic memory; Prospective memory; Subjective memory