The CACNA1C risk allele selectively impacts on executive function in bipolar type I disorder. (14th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Soeiro‐de‐Souza, M. G.; Bio, D. S.; Dias, V. V.; Vieta, E.; Machado‐Vieira, R.; Moreno, R. A.
• Is Part Of: Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica. Volume 128:Number 5(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 369
• Publication Date: 2013-02-14
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/acps.12073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-690X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="acps12073-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acps12073-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Calcium channels are important for converting electrical activity into biochemical events. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs1006737) in the <italic>CACNA1C</italic> gene has been strongly associated with increased risk for Bipolar disorder (BD) in genome‐wide association studies. Recently, this same SNP has been reported to influence executive function in schizophrenia and controls, but it remains unclear whether this SNP affects behaviour, especially cognition in subjects with BD.</p> </sec> <sec id="acps12073-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>A total of 109 BD type I subjects and 96 controls were genotyped for <italic>CACNA1C</italic> rs1006737 and assessed with an executive function tests battery [Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS‐III) Letter‐Number Sequence subtest (WAIS‐LNS), digit span (WAISDS), trail making test (TMT), and WCST (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test)].</p> </sec> <sec id="acps12073-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In patients with BD, the <italic>CACNA1C</italic> genotype Met/Met was associated with worse performance on all four executive function tests compared to Val/Val. No influence of <italic>CACNA1C</italic> was observed in the cognitive performance of healthy controls.</p> </sec> <sec id="acps12073-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Our data indicate for the first time that the <italic>CACNA1C</italic> risk allele is likely associated with executive dysfunction as a trait in BD, as this association was found regardless the presence of mood symptoms. Larger studies should evaluate the potential influence of <italic>CACNA1C</italic> on other cognitive domains in BD.</p> </sec> </abstract>