Genetic architecture of learning and delayed recall: A twin study of episodic memory.

BackgroundVisual and verbal episodic memory deficits are putative endophenotypes for schizophrenia; however, the extent of any genetic overlap of these with schizophrenia is unclear. In this study, we set out to quantify the genetic and environmental contributions to variance in visual and verbal memory performance, and to quantify their genetic relationship with schizophrenia.MethodWe applied bivariate genetic modelling to 280 twins in a classic twin study design, including monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) pairs concordant and discordant for schizophrenia, and healthy control twins. We assessed episodic memory using subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale – Revised (WMS-R).ResultsGenetic influences (i.e. heritability) contributed significantly to variance in immediate recall of both verbal memory and visual learning, and the delayed recall of verbal and visual memory. Liability to schizophrenia was associated with memory impairment, with evidence of significant phenotypic correlations between all episodic memory measures and schizophrenia. Genetic factors were the main source of the phenotypic correlations for immediate recall of visual learning material; both immediate and delayed recall of verbal memory; and delayed recall of visual memory that, for example, shared genetic variance with schizophrenia, which accounted for 88% of the phenotypic correlation (rph=0.41) between the two.ConclusionsVerbal memory and visual learning and memory are moderately heritable, share a genetic overlap with schizophrenia and are valid endophenotypes for the condition. The inclusion of these endophenotypes in genetic association studies may improve the power to detect susceptibility genes for schizophrenia.

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Delayed recall memory impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-5764-2016dn1003006 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 204-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arthur Oscar Schelp ◽

Cristiane Lara Mendes-Chiloff ◽

Vanessa Cristina Paduan ◽

José Eduardo Corrente ◽

Fabrício Diniz de Lima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Memory Impairment ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Recall Memory ◽

Significant Difference ◽

With Memory

ABSTRACT Age is one of the risk factors for dementia in patients with Parkinson's disease (PDD). Distinct cognitive syndromes of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been identified in previous studies. Questions about the role of such cognitive disorders in PD outcomes, especially memory dysfunction, in patients with PD remain unanswered. Objective: To establish possible correlations between delayed recall memory (episodic memory), age, and other demographic variables in patients with PD. Methods: A two-stage protocol was applied. Patients with delayed recall memory compromise, selected based on a brief battery of tests (BBRC-Edu), were classified as dementia cases and submitted to the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS). Data from patients with memory disturbances were compared against individuals without episodic memory impairment, and correlated with age and demographic variables. Results: Except for identification and naming, all subtests in the screening battery showed a significant difference (p≤0.0001) between the memory-compromised group (case) and the group without memory impairment (no case). The results also correlated negatively with age (p≤0.0001) and positively with level of education (p=0.0874) in patients with PD. Conclusion: The analysis showed a significant relationship between age and dementia characterized by impaired episodic memory. The findings support reports of a wide spectrum of neuropsychological performance impairment in PD with age, particularly dementia associated with memory deterioration. No correlations between disease duration and cognitive dysfunction were evident.

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Musical instrument engagement across the life course and episodic memory in late life: An analysis of 60 years of longitudinal data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0253053 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. e0253053

Author(s):

Jamie L. Romeiser ◽

Dylan M. Smith ◽

Sean A. P. Clouston

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Cognitive Reserve ◽

High School Graduates ◽

Musical Instrument ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Memory Decline ◽

Musical Engagement ◽

Rate Of Decline ◽

Over Time

Background As the global burden of dementia increases, the absence of treatment underscores the need for identification of factors that may improve cognitive reserve–the ability to stave off cognitive decline in old age. The beneficial association between musical instrument engagement and episodic memory has been identified in children, young adults, and older adults. Yet, previous studies in musical instrument engagement have rarely examined the potential for adolescence and adulthood exposures to independently improve cognition, nor have they been linked with the rate of memory decline over time in older adults. We investigated whether adolescent musical instrument engagement and continued musical instrument engagement over the adult life course were separately associated with higher episodic memory, as well as rate of decline in a large longitudinal cohort. Methods Data were from a prospective cohort of high school graduates from 1957. High school music engagement (HSME) was ascertained through graduate yearbooks and assessed as membership in musical performance groups. A questionnaire was used to assess musical engagement through adulthood (MEA) at ages 35, 55, and 65. The episodic memory score was composed of immediate and delayed recall task scores, and was assessed when participants were aged approximately 65 and 72 years old among 5,718 individuals. Linear mixed models were used to assess the association between music, and memory performance and decline over time. Results Of high school graduates who participated in the study, 38.1% played music in high school, and 21.1% played music in adulthood. While musical engagement was more common in those who played in childhood, 40% of those who played continuously as an adult did not play in high school. High HSME (B = 0.348, p = 0.049) and continuous MEA (B = 0.424, p = 0.012) were associated with higher memory scores at age 65 after covariate adjustment. When examining memory decline, the benefits of high HSME decreased over time (B = -0.435, p = 0.048), while the rate of decline did not differ between MEA groups. Exploratory models revealed differential benefits for HSME and immediate recall, and MEA and delayed recall. Conclusion This study provides further evidence that musical engagement in childhood or adulthood is associated with non-musical cognitive reserve. These two exposures may act differentially in different domains of episodic memory. Further work is needed to determine the relationship between musicianship and the rate of cognitive decline.

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Generalised Anxiety Disorder – A Twin Study of Genetic Architecture, Genome-Wide Association and Differential Gene Expression

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0134865 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. e0134865 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Matthew N. Davies ◽

Serena Verdi ◽

Andrea Burri ◽

Maciej Trzaskowski ◽

Minyoung Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Differential Gene Expression ◽

Twin Study ◽

Genetic Architecture ◽

Genome Wide Association ◽

Generalised Anxiety Disorder ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Differential Gene

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Episodic memory and delayed recall are significantly more impaired in younger patients with deficit schizophrenia than in elderly patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0197004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. e0197004 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Buranee Kanchanatawan ◽

Sookjaroen Tangwongchai ◽

Thitiporn Supasitthumrong ◽

Sira Sriswasdi ◽

Michael Maes

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Younger Patients ◽

Deficit Schizophrenia

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The genetic architecture of oral language, reading fluency, and reading comprehension: A twin study from 7 to 16 years.

Developmental Psychology ◽

10.1037/dev0000297 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 (6) ◽

pp. 1115-1129 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Maria G. Tosto ◽

Marianna E. Hayiou-Thomas ◽

Nicole Harlaar ◽

Elizabeth Prom-Wormley ◽

Philip S. Dale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reading Comprehension ◽

Reading Fluency ◽

Oral Language ◽

Twin Study ◽

Genetic Architecture

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Plasma MCP-1 and changes on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults

Alzheimer s Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13195-021-00940-2 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Juan Luis Sanchez-Sanchez ◽

Kelly V. Giudici ◽

Sophie Guyonnet ◽

Julien Delrieu ◽

Yan Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Continuous Variable ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Clinical Dementia Rating ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Domain Specific

Abstract Background Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), a glial-derived chemokine, mediates neuroinflammation and may regulate memory outcomes among older adults. We aimed to explore the associations of plasma MCP-1 levels (alone and in combination with β-amyloid deposition—Aβ42/40) with overall and domain-specific cognitive evolution among older adults. Methods Secondary analyses including 1097 subjects (mean age = 75.3 years ± 4.4; 63.8% women) from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT). MCP-1 (higher is worse) and Aβ42/40 (lower is worse) were measured in plasma collected at year 1. MCP-1 in continuous and as a dichotomy (values in the highest quartile (MCP-1+)) were used, as well as a dichotomy of Aβ42/40. Outcomes were measured annually over 4 years and included the following: cognitive composite z-score (CCS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) sum of boxes (overall cognitive function); composite executive function z-score, composite attention z-score, Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT - memory). Results Plasma MCP-1 as a continuous variable was associated with the worsening of episodic memory over 4 years of follow-up, specifically in measures of free and cued delayed recall. MCP-1+ was associated with worse evolution in the CCS (4-year between-group difference: β = −0.14, 95%CI = −0.26, −0.02) and the CDR sum of boxes (2-year: β = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.06, 0.32). In domain-specific analyses, MCP-1+ was associated with declines in the FCSRT delayed recall sub-domains. In the presence of low Aβ42/40, MCP-1+ was not associated with greater declines in cognitive functions. The interaction with continuous biomarker values Aβ42/40× MCP-1 × time was significant in models with CDR sum of boxes and FCSRT DTR as dependent variables. Conclusions Baseline plasma MCP-1 levels were associated with longitudinal declines in overall cognitive and episodic memory performance in older adults over a 4-year follow-up. How plasma MCP-1 interacts with Aβ42/40 to determine cognitive decline at different stages of cognitive decline/dementia should be clarified by further research. The MCP-1 association on cognitive decline was strongest in those with amyloid plaques, as measured by blood plasma Aβ42/40.

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Genetic architecture of Environmental Sensitivity reflects multiple heritable components: a twin study with adolescents

Molecular Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/s41380-020-0783-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elham Assary ◽

Helena M. S. Zavos ◽

Eva Krapohl ◽

Robert Keers ◽

Michael Pluess

Keyword(s):

Twin Study ◽

Genetic Architecture ◽

Environmental Sensitivity

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Verbal Episodic Memory and Endogenous Estradiol: An Association in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research ◽

10.1155/2011/673012 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. M. Bittner ◽

V. Bittner ◽

M. W. Riepe

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Apoe Phenotype ◽

Normal Controls ◽

Verbal Episodic Memory

In the continuum of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and normal controls, a possible association of verbal memory and endogenous estradiol (E2) levels was investigated. Verbal episodic memory was measured with a german version of the California verbal memory test (CVLT). Results were controlled for apolipoprotein E (ApoE) phenotype. We studied 37 controls, 32 MCIs and 117 ADs. Groups differed in all trials of the CVLT and in E2levels . E2 levels differed significantly between groups only among females . In females correcting for age and ApoE, there was an overall correlation between CVLT delayed recall and level of E2 . Stepwise regression analyses found E2level to be a significant predictor for CVLT delayed recall . It may be concluded that lower E2levels occur more in the course of the disease than may be considered as a risk factor per se.

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