biostudies-literatureSalminen LENIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNCATS NIH HHSNIH/National Institute of Mental HealthNIA NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSNINDS NIH HHSAustralian National Health and Medical Research CouncilNational Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Aging111-119https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5515475biostudies-literatureUnknown329Oxidative stress is a key mechanism of the aging process that can cause damage to brain white matter and cognitive functions. Polymorphisms in the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and catalase (CAT) genes have been associated with abnormalities in antioxidant enzyme activity in the aging brain, suggesting a risk for enhanced oxidative damage to white matter and cognition among older individuals with these genetic variants. The present study compared differences in white matter microstructure and cognition among 96 older adults with and without genetic risk factors of SOD2 (rs4880) and CAT (rs1001179). Results revealed higher radial diffusivity in the anterior thalamic radiation among SOD2 CC genotypes compared to CT/TT genotypes. Further, the CC genotype moderated the relationship between theBehavioural brain researchVulnerability of white matter tracts and cognition to the SOD2 polymorphism: A preliminary study of antioxidant defense genes in brain aging.PMC5515475R01 NS0395385F31AG050450R01 NS052470R01NS052470R21MH090494UL1 TR002345F31 AG050450R21 MH1058221037196R01NS039538R21 MH090494UL1 TR000448Griffin MGSalminen LEBolzenius JDSchofield PRPaul RHTate DFBruce SEConturo TEPierce KDCabeen RPLaidlaw DHfalseVulnerability of white matter tracts and cognition to the SOD2 polymorphism: A preliminary study of antioxidant defense genes in brain aging.Oxidative stress is a key mechanism of the aging process that can cause damage to brain white matter and cognitive functions. Polymorphisms in the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and catalase (CAT) genes have been associated with abnormalities in antioxidant enzyme activity in the aging brain, suggesting a risk for enhanced oxidative damage to white matter and cognition among older individuals with these genetic variants. The present study compared differences in white matter microstructure and cognition among 96 older adults with and without genetic risk factors of SOD2 (rs4880) and CAT (rs1001179). Results revealed higher radial diffusivity in the anterior thalamic radiation among SOD2 CC genotypes compared to CT/TT genotypes. Further, the CC genotype moderated the relationship between the2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Jun2025-04-26T18:39:52.526Z2019-03-26T23:44:04ZS-EPMC55154752845788110.1016/j.bbr.2017.04.041