Functional polymorphisms of the mineralocorticoid receptor gene NR3C2 are associated with diminished memory decline: Results from a longitudinal general‐population study. Issue 9 (18th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Terock, Jan; Van der Auwera, Sandra; Janowitz, Deborah; Wittfeld, Katharina; Teumer, Alexander; Grabe, Hans J.
• Is Part Of: Molecular genetics & genomic medicine. Volume 8:Issue 9(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-06-18
• Subjects: cognitive decline -- mineralocorticoid receptor -- NR3C2 gene -- rs2070951 -- rs5522; Medical genetics -- Periodicals; Genomics -- Periodicals; 616.042
• DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1345
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2324-9269

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the brain has a key role in the regulation of the central stress response and is associated with memory performance. We investigated whether the genetic polymorphisms rs5522 and rs2070951 of NR3C2 showed main and interactive effects with childhood trauma on memory decline. Methods: Declarative memory was longitudinally assessed in 1, 318 participants from the community‐dwelling Study of Health in Pomerania using the Verbal Learning and Memory Test (VLMT). In a subsample of 377 participants aged 60 and older, the Mini‐Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was additionally applied. Mean follow‐up time for the VLMT and MMSE were 6.4 and 10.7 years, respectively. Results: Homozygous carriers of the G allele of rs2070951 ( p < .01) and of the A allele of rs5522 ( p < .001) showed higher immediate recall of words as compared to carriers of C allele (rs2070951) or the G allele (rs5522). The CG haplotype was associated with decreased recall ( p < .001). Likewise, in the subsample of older patients, the AA genotype of rs5522 was associated with higher MMSE scores ( p < .05). CG haplotypes showed significantly reduced MMSE scores in comparison to the reference haplotype ( β = −0.60; p < .01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the GG genotype of rs2070951 as well as the AA genotype of rs5522 are associated with diminished memory decline. Abstract : The mineralocorticoidreceptor has a central role in the brains stress response. In this longitudinal general population study, we investigated whether rs5522 and rs2070951 of the MR gene are associated with memory performance. Using two different measures for memory performance, we found that these single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with diminished declarative memory decline.