Evidence of association of KIBRA genotype with episodic memory in families of psychotic patients and controls

J Psychiatr Res. 2010 Sep;44(12):795-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.01.012. Epub 2010 Feb 24.

Abstract

The first genome-wide association study of human memory identified an association between a common T/C polymorphism of the KIBRA gene (rs17070145) and episodic memory performance in normal individuals; subsequent studies have implicated the same polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease. Since impaired neurocognitive performance, including memory, may be both a core feature of schizophrenia and a candidate endophenotype, we attempted to replicate this association in a total sample of 544 subjects (including patients with psychosis, their unaffected relatives as well as normal individuals). In the combined sample there was a significant association between the KIBRA T allele and better performance in the single principle component of the memory measures, which included immediate and delayed logical and visual memory from the Wechsler Memory Scale (p=0.019). In the unaffected individuals (patients' relatives and healthy controls) we observed an association of KIBRA with immediate and delayed logical memory (p=0.020 and 0.025, respectively), while in patients with psychosis with delayed visual memory (p=0.05). This study replicates the association between the KIBRA gene and episodic memory and suggests a possibly differential effect of the polymorphism in psychotic and non-psychotic individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / etiology*
  • Memory Disorders / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Psychotic Disorders / complications*
  • Psychotic Disorders / genetics

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Proteins
  • WWC1 protein, human