Serotonin transporter gene moderates associations between mood, memory and hippocampal volume. Behav Brain Res 2013 Apr 01;242:158-65
Date
12/26/2012Pubmed ID
23266326Pubmed Central ID
PMC4433017DOI
10.1016/j.bbr.2012.11.013Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84872470159 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 29 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: The short (S) allele of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is associated with reduced serotonin turnover compared to the long (L) allele in Caucasians. Few studies have examined its impact on memory and brain structure in healthy young adults.
METHODS: Participants included 51 healthy young adults (25 female; ages 18-25). Multiple regressions examined the independent contribution of 5-HTTLPR biomarker genotype and its interactions with gender and sub-clinical depressive symptoms on hippocampal volumes and memory.
RESULTS: The 5-HTTLPR genotype significantly interacted with gender in predicting larger left hippocampal volumes in S-carrying females and smaller hippocampal volumes in males (p<.03). Gender also moderated the impact of the 5-HTTLPR on neurocognition. In females, S allele carriers had poorer visual recall compared to L carriers (p<.05). A three-way interaction between 5-HTTLPR, gender, and depressive symptoms was also observed (p<.04). In females, larger left hippocampal volumes were associated with increased depressive symptoms while the opposite was seen in males. Finally, in male and female S carriers, increased depressive symptoms were marginally associated with poorer verbal memory (p<.09).
CONCLUSIONS: In females, the 5-HTTLPR S allele was associated with poorer memory performance, increased depressive symptoms and larger hippocampal volumes. In males, the S allele predicted smaller hippocampal volumes and increased depressive symptoms. The opposite morphometric patterns likely reflect gender differences in adolescent hippocampal development. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to examine whether the impact of 5-HTTLPR genotype on neurocognition across development differs according to extent of mood symptoms and gender.
Author List
Price JS, Strong J, Eliassen J, McQueeny T, Miller M, Padula CB, Shear P, Lisdahl KAuthors
Krista Lisdahl PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeJenessa Price PhD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Affect
Analysis of Variance
Depression
Female
Genotype
Hippocampus
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory
Memory Disorders
Neuropsychological Tests
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Regression Analysis
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
Sex Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
