Dopamine-dependent cognitive processes after menopause: the relationship between COMT genotype, estradiol, and working memory.

ABSTRACT: The present study examined how a gene related to functioning of the dopaminergic system, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and estradiol were related to brain functioning in healthy postmenopausal women. Participants were 118 healthy, cognitively normal postmenopausal women between the ages of 50-60 years. All women provided a blood sample for COMT and estradiol analyses and underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan. Working memory performance and related brain activation were measured with BOLD functional magnetic resonance imaging during the N-back task. Results were examined across each COMT genotype and a median split was performed on the circulating estradiol levels to create high and low estradiol groups for each genotype. COMT genotype and estradiol level were hypothesized to b

SUBMITTER: Dumas JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6215721 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature