The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Moderates the Effect of Cognitive Reserve on 36-month Cognitive Change in Healthy Older Adults

Authors

David D. Ward, University of Tasmania
Ross Andel, University of South FloridaFollow
Nichole L. Saunders, University of Tasmania
Megan E. Thow, University of Tasmania
Shannon Z. Klekociuk, University of Tasmania
Aidan D. Bindoff, University of Tasmania
James C. Vickers, University of Tasmania

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Keywords

Cognitive reserve, Brain reserve, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, Aging, Cognitive function, Cognitive change

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trci.2017.04.006

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive reserve (CR) and BDNF Val66Met are independently associated with the rate of cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. This study was designed to investigate the interactive effects of these variables on 36-month cognitive change in cognitively intact older adults.

Methods: Data for this investigation were obtained from 445 community-residing participants of the Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project, who underwent genetic screening and annual assessment of neuropsychological, health, and psychosocial function.

Results: Our main result was that BDNF Val66Met moderated the relationship between baseline CR and change in executive function performance, in that CR-related differences in function decreased across the follow-up period in BDNF Val homozygotes, but became more pronounced in BDNF Met carriers. Similar effects were not observed within the other memory- and language-related cognitive domains.

Discussion: Inheritance of BDNF Met may be associated with a detrimental influence on the relationship between CR and cognitive change in cognitively intact older adults, but this effect may be restricted to the executive function domain.

Rights Information

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, v. 3, issue 3, p. 323-331

Scholar Commons Citation

Ward, David D.; Andel, Ross; Saunders, Nichole L.; Thow, Megan E.; Klekociuk, Shannon Z.; Bindoff, Aidan D.; and Vickers, James C., "The BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Moderates the Effect of Cognitive Reserve on 36-month Cognitive Change in Healthy Older Adults" (2017). Aging Studies Faculty Publications. 40.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gey_facpub/40