The functional COMT polymorphism, Val 158 Met, is associated with logical memory and the personality trait intellect/imagination in a cohort of healthy 79 year olds

S. Harris, Helen Catherine Fox, J. M. Starr, A. F. Wright, A. Pattie, Lawrence Jeffrey Whalley, I. J. Deary

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    76 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A polymorphism (Val158Met) in the gene for catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) was previously associated with differences in cognitive ability and personality. Here we examine associations between this polymorphism and cognitive ability, cognitive aging, personality and mood in 460 relatively healthy people born in 1921. All had cognitive ability measured at age I I in the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932, and again at age 79. COMT genotype was not associated with childhood IQ. At age 79, COMT genotype was significantly related to differences in verbal declarative memory (scores on the Logical Memory test; p = 0.028) and to scores on the personality trait of intellect/imagination (P = 0.023), adjusted for sex and childhood IQ. In both cases the Val/Met heterozygotes had higher scores than both homozygous groups. There were trends toward the heterozygotes having higher scores on the personality traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness. The effect of COMT genotype on Logical Memory scores was independent of the effect of APOE genotype, and similar in effect size. Therefore, COMT genotype may contribute to differences in normal cognitive aging and to differences in some of the major personality traits in old age. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-6
    Number of pages5
    JournalNeuroscience Letters
    Volume385
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2005

    Keywords

    • catechol-O-methyltransferase
    • logical memory
    • personality
    • mood
    • cognitive aging
    • CATECHOL-O-METHYLTRANSFERASE
    • COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS
    • GENE POLYMORPHISM
    • QUESTIONNAIRE
    • PERFORMANCE
    • GENOTYPE
    • SCHIZOPHRENIA
    • MODULATION
    • DISORDERS
    • CHILDHOOD

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