The influence of Catechol-O-methyltransferase on cognition is modulated by bipolar disorder diagnosis

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event The influence of Catechol-O-methyltransferase on cognition is modulated by bipolar disorder diagnosis Tamsyn E. Van Rheenen1, 2*, Kiymet Bozaoglu3 and Susan L. Rossell1, 2 1 Swinburne University, Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre, Australia 2 Monash University, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Australia 3 Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Genomics and Systems Biology, Australia Background: Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) variations have been implicated in the genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder (BD) and may modulate candidate endophenotypes related to neurocognition. Given the sparse empirical data examining this, the aim of the current study was to determine the relationship of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the COMT gene (rs165599, rs4680 and rs4818) and performance on standardised cognitive battery in a well characterised sample of BD patients compared to controls. Methods: Fifty BD patients and 52 healthy controls were genotyped across rs165599, rs4680 and rs4818, and their association with performance on a battery of cognitive measures tested in a case-control design. Results: Significant interaction effects were evident for executive functioning across all three SNP’s, and for visuospatial learning on the rs4680. On these tasks, G allelotype carrier performance was associated with better performance in the control group, but worse performance in the patient group. Conclusions: These novel findings suggest that aberrations of executive function and visuospatial memory in BD are, at least partially, the result of a significant influence of COMT on these particular domains. Thus, COMT may be involved in the pathophysiology of the disorder by influencing the capacity for certain cognitive processes. Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge the late Associate Professor Jeremy Jowett for his kindness, advice and support of this research, as well as the financial support of the Australian Rotary Health/Bipolar Expedition, Helen McPherson Smith Trust and an Australian Postgraduate Award. Keywords: COMT, Val158Met, rs165599, rs4680, rs4818, MCCB, Stroop, Dopamine Conference: ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia, 28 Nov - 1 Dec, 2013. Presentation Type: Oral Topic: Executive Processes Citation: Van Rheenen TE, Bozaoglu K and Rossell SL (2013). The influence of Catechol-O-methyltransferase on cognition is modulated by bipolar disorder diagnosis. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.212.00156 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 15 Oct 2013; Published Online: 25 Nov 2013. * Correspondence: Mrs. Tamsyn E Van Rheenen, Swinburne University, Brain and Psychological Sciences Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia, tvanrheenen@swin.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Tamsyn E Van Rheenen Kiymet Bozaoglu Susan L Rossell Google Tamsyn E Van Rheenen Kiymet Bozaoglu Susan L Rossell Google Scholar Tamsyn E Van Rheenen Kiymet Bozaoglu Susan L Rossell PubMed Tamsyn E Van Rheenen Kiymet Bozaoglu Susan L Rossell Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.