title: Effect of a human serotonin 5-HT2Areceptor gene polymorphism on impulsivity: Dependence on cholesterol levels.
abstract: Impulsivity is multidimensional: Low impulse control may result in behavioural disorders, but acting on the spur of moment may also be advantageous. Previous studies have shown negative associations between different facets of impulsivity and serotonergic function. Other investigations have found negative correlations between serum lipid levels and impulsivity.
  
  
  
  We have investigated whether the functional polymorphism -1438A/G in the serotonin 5-HT2Areceptor gene (HTR2A) is associated with impulsivity levels and whether there is any interaction with serum lipid levels. This analysis was based on data of the population-representative Estonian Children Personality Behaviour and Health Study at age 25. Impulsivity was self-reported with the Adaptive and Maladaptive Impulsivity Scale.
  
  
  
  Subjects with the A/A genotype of the HTR2A -1438A/G polymorphism had higher scores of Maladaptive impulsivity, but not Adaptive impulsivity. In females, high LDL and total cholesterol levels increased the genotype effect. In males, in the highest quartile of total or LDL cholesterol the genotype effect was altered, with G/G homozygotes having the highest Maladaptive impulsivity levels.
  
  
  
  Only one cohort of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS) was used in the current study and impulsivity measures were self-reported.
  
  
  
  Our results do not support the notion that low cholesterol levels universally lead to higher impulsivity, but it was found that high total and LDL cholesterol levels moderate the effect of the HTR2A gene promoter polymorphism. This suggests that future studies on impulsivity need to consider the interaction of serotonergic measures with the whole range of cholesterol levels.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: katrin.tomson@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomson
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: mariliis.vaht@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Mariliis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaht
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: kariina.laas@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Kariina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laas
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia. Electronic address: toomas.veidebaum@tai.ee.
authors.forename: Toomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veidebaum
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: jaanus.harro@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Jaanus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Gender; HTR2A; LDL; Maladaptive Impulsivity