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- Title
Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism on the Relationship between White Matter Hyperintensity and Cognition in Healthy People.
- Authors
Liu, Mu-En; Huang, Chu-Chung; Yang, Albert C.; Tu, Pei-Chi; Yeh, Heng-Liang; Hong, Chen-Jee; Liou, Ying-Jay; Chen, Jin-Fan; Chou, Kun-Hsien; Lin, Ching-Po; Tsai, Shih-Jen
- Abstract
Background: White matter lesions can be easily observed on T2-weighted MR images, and are termed white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Their presence may be correlated with cognitive impairment; however, the relationship between regional WMH volume and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism in healthy populations remains unclear. Methods: We recruited 315 ethnic Chinese adults with a mean age of 54.9±21.8 years (range: 21–89 y) to examine the genetic effect of COMT on regional WMH and the manner in which they interact to affect cognitive function in a healthy adult population. Cognitive tests, structural MRI scans, and genotyping of COMT were conducted for each participant. Results: Negative correlations between the Digit Span Forward (DSF) score and frontal WMH volumes (r = −.123, P = .032, uncorrected) were noted. For the genetic effect of COMT, no significant difference in cognitive performance was observed among 3 genotypic groups. However, differences in WMH volumes over the subcortical region (P = .016, uncorrected), whole brain (P = .047, uncorrected), and a trend over the frontal region (P = .050, uncorrected) were observed among 3 COMT genotypic groups. Met homozygotes and Met/Val heterozygotes exhibited larger WMH volumes in these brain regions than the Val homozygotes. Furthermore, a correlation between the DSF and regional WMH volume was observed only in Met homozygotes. The effect size (cohen’s f) revealed a small effect. Conclusions: The results indicate that COMT might modulate WMH volumes and the effects of WMH on cognition.
- Subjects
CATECHOL-O-methyltransferase; GENETIC polymorphisms; COGNITION; BRAIN physiology; MAGNETIC resonance imaging of the brain; NEUROANATOMY; COMPUTATIONAL biology
- Publication
PLoS ONE, 2014, Vol 9, Issue 2, p1
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0088749