BDNF polymorphism rs6265 and hippocampal structure and memory performance in healthy control subjects

Meghana S. Karnik*, Lei Wang, Deanna M. Barch, John C. Morris, John G. Csernansky

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is highly expressed in the hippocampus of many species, including humans. The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs6265 on the BDNF gene is thought to alter activity-dependent secretion of the protein, and previous research suggests that the Met allele is associated with smaller hippocampal volumes and poorer memory performance in human populations. For this study, we genotyped 154 healthy human subjects for the Val66Met polymorphism. The effects of genotype upon hippocampal volume, as assessed using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging and high-dimensional brain mapping, and upon memory performance, as assessed using a battery of neuropsychological tests, were determined. We found that genotype had no significant effect on hippocampal structure, nor did it have a significant effect on memory performance, covarying for age. Age, however, was significantly related to changes in whole brain volume and performance on memory tasks. We concluded that in a large cohort of healthy human subjects, the Met allele of rs6265 is not associated with hippocampal structure or memory performance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)425-429
Number of pages5
JournalPsychiatry Research
Volume178
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010

Funding

We would like to thank Maureen V. Martin and Alison Goate for their assistance in genotyping our subjects. Funding for this study was provided by the following NIMH grants: R01MH056584 — Neuromorphometry in Schizophrenia by Computer Algorithm, P01AG003991 — Healthy Aging and Senile Dementia P50MH071616 — Mapping Abnormal Neurodevelopment in Schizophrenia.

Keywords

  • Control subjects
  • Genotype
  • Hippocampus
  • Structural imaging
  • Val66Met

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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