Features of cognitive mental processes and neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system in firefighters depending on polymorphisms of the regulators’ genes of the brain monoamine system

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Firefighters' performance of their occupational duties is associated with significant psycho-emotional stress, as well as the complex influence of harmful and dangerous factors that are a source of risk to their health and life. One of the most important modern tasks of vocational training of employees in the EMERCOM of Russia is the problem of assessing psychophysiological reserves. Currently, traditional methods of psychological and psychophysiological testing do not allow a full assessment of psychophysiological reserves because the degree of adaptation to extreme loads is determined by hereditary traits.
 AIM: To study the features of cognitive mental processes and neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system in firefighters that depend on the polymorphisms of the regulators genes of the monoamine system of the brain.
 MATERIAL AND METHODS: Methodologically, 453 people were examined, of which 234 were the main group (firefighters), and 219 were the control group. Assessment was conducted using the following methods: "Correction test with Landolt rings", "Mnsterberg test", "Schulte tables", "Reaction to a moving object", "Simple visual-motor reaction", and KR-3-85 test batteries. Genotyping was performed using five candidate genes of 5-HTTLPR or 5HTT, 5HT2A, COMT, DRD1, and DRD2/ANKK1.
 RESULTS: The results of indicators of attention, neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system, and cognitive mental processes, depending on the nature of the occupational tasks performed and employment duration, indicates the strain of the functional systems of the body during long-term work (more than five years) in the main study group (firefighters). Firefighters carrying 5HTT L/L, 5HT2A C/C, COMT Val/Val, and DRD2/ANKK1 Glu/Glu genotypes have significantly higher rates than those of 5HTT S/S, 5HT2A Т/Т genotypes, COMT Met/Met, and DRD2/ANKK1 Lis/Lis, and at the same time lower indicators compared to individuals with similar genotypes from the control group.
 CONCLUSION: The data obtained indicate the feasibility of practical application of studies of the 5HTT, 5HT2A, and DRD2/ANKK1 genes. Changes in the level of attention and neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system depending on the polymorphic variants of the DRD1 gene were not observed. The indicators of cognitive mental processes in the control and main groups differed depending on the polymorphic variants of the COMT gene.