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Influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensity volume and cognition in geriatric depression.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hong, ED; Taylor, WD; McQuoid, DR; Potter, GG; Payne, ME; Ashley-Koch, A; Steffens, DC
Published in: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
October 2009

OBJECTIVE: The 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) has been linked to unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hyperintensities. The authors examined the relationship between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism (C677T) and a) geriatric depression, b) MRI hyperintense lesion volume, and c) neurocognitive test performance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Duke University Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS: Depressed (N = 178) and comparison (N = 85) elderly subjects. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects had blood drawn to assess MTHFR genotype, were imaged by MRI to determine their white matter hyperintense lesion (WML) and gray matter hyperintense lesion (GML) volume, and assessed using a comprehensive neurocognitive battery evaluating multiple domains of function. Linear regression models were fit to test the effect of genotype, a depression by genotype interaction, and an age by genotype interaction on both hyperintense lesion volume measures and neurocognitive task performance. RESULTS: The MTHFR C677T genotype by age interaction term was significantly associated with MRI WML volume (p = 0.0175); however, this relationship was no longer statistically significant when WML volumes underwent a log transformation to produce a more normal distribution. The 677T allele was neither more frequent in depressed subjects nor associated with either gray matter hyperintensity volume or neurocognitive test performance. CONCLUSIONS: MTHFR genotype affects the relationship between age and WML volume where individuals who carry the 677T allele exhibit greater WML volume by age, although this relationship should be verified given the failure to replicate the finding using transformed WML volumes. Genotype was not related to GML volume, cognitive function, or presence of depression, although demographic differences could account for this negative finding.

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Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

17

Issue

10

Start / End Page

847 / 855

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Genotype
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Hong, E. D., Taylor, W. D., McQuoid, D. R., Potter, G. G., Payne, M. E., Ashley-Koch, A., & Steffens, D. C. (2009). Influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensity volume and cognition in geriatric depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 17(10), 847–855. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181aad5b2
Hong, Edmund D., Warren D. Taylor, Douglas R. McQuoid, Guy G. Potter, Martha E. Payne, Allison Ashley-Koch, and David C. Steffens. “Influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensity volume and cognition in geriatric depression.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 17, no. 10 (October 2009): 847–55. https://doi.org/10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181aad5b2.
Hong ED, Taylor WD, McQuoid DR, Potter GG, Payne ME, Ashley-Koch A, et al. Influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensity volume and cognition in geriatric depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009 Oct;17(10):847–55.
Hong, Edmund D., et al. “Influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensity volume and cognition in geriatric depression.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, vol. 17, no. 10, Oct. 2009, pp. 847–55. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181aad5b2.
Hong ED, Taylor WD, McQuoid DR, Potter GG, Payne ME, Ashley-Koch A, Steffens DC. Influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensity volume and cognition in geriatric depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009 Oct;17(10):847–855.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

17

Issue

10

Start / End Page

847 / 855

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Genotype