S176. A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF COMT GENE INVOLVEMENT IN COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY AND ATTENTION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DISORDERS

ABSTRACT: Abstract

Background

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are often characterised by a plateau or decline in cognitive abilities early in the prodrome. The cause of developmental alteration remains unknown, and investigation of genetic involvement in cognitive function in these disorders may assist the understanding of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms involved. Variation at two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene have previously shown an influence on COMT protein levels and cognition; rs4680 and rs4818. Here we investigate the influence of the nonsynonymous “Val/Met” SNP rs4680 and a second functional SNP, rs4818, on tasks of cognitive flexibility and attention.

Methods

The sample comprised 48 healthy controls (

SUBMITTER: Morris K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7234585 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature