Dopaminergic genes polymorphisms and prefrontal cortex efficiency among obese people - whether gender is a differentiating factor?

In this study we assessed the association between dopaminergic gene polymorphisms: DAT1 (SLC6A3), COMTVal158Met, DRD4 (48-bp variable number of terminal repeats - VNTR) and WCST parameters to investigate the frontal lobes functions in obese indivuduals. Polymorphisms of DAT1, COMTVal158Met, DRD4 may influence executive functions in the obese subjects. The analysis of the frequency of individual alleles of the studied genetic polymorphisms was performed in 248 obese patients (179 women, 69 men). Evaluation of the prefrontal cortex function (operating memory and executive functions) was performed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Separate analyzes were performed in age subgroups to determine different activity and regulation of genes in young and old. Obtained results indicate the involvement of dopaminergic transmission in the regulation of prefrontal cortex function. The scores of WCST parameters were different in the subgroups of women and men and in the age subgroups. Data analysis indicates different dependences of the prefrontal cortex function, in the study group, from different elements such as genetic factors, metabolic aspects of obesity, and hormonal activity (estrogen). PMID: 31032750 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Molecular Medicine - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Tags: Curr Mol Med Source Type: research