title: Association between Age and the 7 Repeat Allele of the Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene.
abstract: Longevity is in part (25%) inherited, and genetic studies aim to uncover allelic variants that play an important role in prolonging life span. Results to date confirm only a few gene variants associated with longevity, while others show inconsistent results. However, GWAS studies concentrate on single nucleotide polymorphisms, and there are only a handful of studies investigating variable number of tandem repeat variations related to longevity. Recently, Grady and colleagues (2013) reported a remarkable (66%) accumulation of those carrying the 7 repeat allele of the dopamine D4 receptor gene in a large population of 90-109 years old Californian centenarians, as compared to an ancestry-matched young population. In the present study we demonstrate the same association using continuous age groups in an 18-97 years old Caucasian sample (N = 1801, p = 0.007). We found a continuous pattern of increase from 18-75, however frequency of allele 7 carriers decreased in our oldest age groups. Possible role of gene-environment interaction effects driven by historical events are discussed. In accordance with previous findings, we observed association preferentially in females (p = 0.003). Our results underlie the importance of investigating non-disease related genetic variants as inherited components of longevity, and confirm, that the 7-repeat allele of the dopamine D4 receptor gene is a longevity enabling genetic factor, accumulating in the elderly female population.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szekely
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.|Postdoctoral Research Program, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6630-087X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kotyuk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.|Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Julianna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bircher
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vereczkei
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, United States of America.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Balota
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasvari-Szekely
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ronai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4