Synergy effects of HbA1c and variants of APOE and BDNFVal66Met explains individual differences in memory performance

Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2013 Nov:106:274-82. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2013.08.017. Epub 2013 Sep 18.

Abstract

We aimed at exploring if synergy effects of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Val(66)Met, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) could explain individual differences in memory performance over 10 years in a population based sample of nondemented adults (N=888, 35-85 years at baseline). Episodic memory was affected by such agents, wheras semantic memory was spared. Both age and HbA1c were associated with episodic memory decline. BDNF(66)Met carriers with higher HbA1c levels evidenced slope decline in episodic recall. We found support for joint effects of BDNFVal(66)Met×APOE×HbA1c and BDNFVal(66)Met×APOE×age on rates of episodic memory change over ten years, after controlling for age, sex, education and cardiovascular diseases. We conclude that variants of genetic polymorphisms act in synergy with long-term blood glucose control in shaping patterns of cognitive aging.

Keywords: APOE; Aging; BDNF; Episodic memory; Epistasis; HbA1c.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics*
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Individuality*
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Memory, Episodic
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human