Chronic low-level mercury exposure, BDNF polymorphism, and associations with cognitive and motor function

Echeverria, Diana; Woods, James S.; Heyer, Nicholas J.; Rohlman, Diane S.; Farin, Federico M.; Bittner, Alvah C.; Li, Tingting; Garabedian, Claire C.

doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2005.08.001

Cited by 103 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…This study extends and investigates this phenomenon in a within-person, longitudinal framework. Our main result replicates and extends results from a number of between-person cross-sectional studies showing that Met allele carriers have lower episodic memory performance (Dempster et al, 2005;Echeverria et al, 2005;Egan et al, 2003;Hariri et al, 2003;Li et al, 2010;Miyajima et al, 2008;Tan et al, 2005), delayed recall (Miyajima et al, 2008), working memory (Echeverria et al, 2005;Rybakowski et al, 2003;Rybakowski et al, 2006), general intelligence (Tsai et al, 2004), and perceptual speed (Miyajima et al, 2008;Raz et al, 2009) compared with Val/Val homozygotes. In contrast to this earlier work, the present study examined genetic effects on individual differences in withinperson cognitive decline (by analyzing how individuals change across time as they age, rather than analyzing how individuals of different ages are different at a given time point).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

The Val/Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene predicts decline in perceptual speed in older adults.

Ghisletta¹,

Bäckman²,

Bertram³

et al. 2014

Psychology and Aging

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The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, and contributes to learning and memory. We investigated whether a common Val66Met missense polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene is associated with individual differences in cognitive decline (marked by perceptual speed) in old age. A total of 376 participants of the Berlin Aging Study, with a mean age of 83.9 years at first occasion, were assessed longitudinally up to 11 times across more than 13 years on the Digit-Letter task. Met carriers (n ϭ 123, 34%) showed steeper linear decline than Val homozygotes (n ϭ 239, 66%); the corresponding contrast explained 2.20% of the variance in change in the entire sample, and 3.41% after excluding individuals at risk for dementia. These effects were not moderated by sex or socioeconomic status. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that normal aging magnifies the effects of common genetic variation on cognitive functioning. Keywords: cognitive decline, BDNF Val/Met polymorphism, Berlin Aging StudyIn recent years, the field of cognitive aging has enriched its explanatory scope by paying increasing attention to the effects of genetic and epigenetic variation on individual differences in cognitive performance. Two broad approaches can be distinguished

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

The Val/Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene predicts decline in perceptual speed in older adults.

Ghisletta¹,

Bäckman²,

Bertram³

et al. 2014

Psychology and Aging

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“…All studies found significant correlations between level of mercury in blood, urine, nails, hairs, or air, and results for the tests used in the respective studies (neurological, psychological, or both) [75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83]. One study found more physical and psychological symptoms in dentists and their personnel than in controls [84], and one single-group cross-sectional study found moderate to severe deviations from norm results of a standardized neuropsychological test-battery (memory, attention, language tasks, visuo-spatial capacity) in 17% of the tested persons and one standard-deviation from population norms for the group as a whole [85].…”

Section: Mercury Exposure In Workersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Inorganic Mercury Play a Role in Alzheimer's Disease? A Systematic Review and an Integrated Molecular Mechanism

Mutter¹,

Curth

Naumann³

et al. 2010

JAD

147

113

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Abstract. Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known to humans. It has been introduced into the human environment and has also been widely used in medicine. Since circumstantial evidence exists that the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be in part caused or exacerbated by inorganic mercury, we conducted a systematic review using a comprehensive search strategy. Studies were screened according to a pre-defined protocol. Two reviewers extracted relevant data independent of each other. One thousand and forty one references were scrutinized, and 106 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Most studies were case control or comparative cohort studies. Thirty-two studies, out of 40 testing memory in individuals exposed to inorganic mercury, found significant memory deficits. Some autopsy studies found increased mercury levels in brain tissues of AD patients. Measurements of mercury levels in blood, urine, hair, nails, and cerebrospinal fluid were inconsistent. In vitro models showed that inorganic mercury reproduces all pathological changes seen in AD, and in animal models inorganic mercury produced changes that are similar to those seen in AD. Its high affinity for selenium and selenoproteins suggests that inorganic mercury may promote neurodegenerative disorders via disruption of redox regulation. Inorganic mercury may play a role as a co-factor in the development of AD. It may also increase the pathological influence of other metals. Our mechanistic model describes potential causal pathways. As the single most effective public health primary preventive measure, industrial, and medical usage of mercury should be eliminated as soon as possible.

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“…Some previous studies on the health effects of mercury exposure have included exposure scores for the analyses of possible relationships between exposure to mercury and different outcomes (13), but most have applied biological indicators of exposure -mainly measurements of the current mercury levels in urine (4)(5)(6)14).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical exposure to mercury among Norwegian dental personnel

Svendsen¹,

Syversen²,

Melø³

et al. 2009

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Chronic low-level mercury exposure, BDNF polymorphism, and associations with cognitive and motor function

Cited by 103 publications

References 58 publications

The Val/Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene predicts decline in perceptual speed in older adults.

The Val/Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene predicts decline in perceptual speed in older adults.

Does Inorganic Mercury Play a Role in Alzheimer's Disease? A Systematic Review and an Integrated Molecular Mechanism

Historical exposure to mercury among Norwegian dental personnel

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