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Association of the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) gene with human cognitive functions

  • Human Genetics
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Abstract

Active search for candidate genes whose polymorphisms are associated with human cognitive functions has been in progress in the past years. The study focused on the role that the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) gene may play in the variation of cognitive processes related to executive functions. The ApaI polymorphism of the IGF2 gene was tested for association with selective attention during visual search, working memory/mental control, and semantic verbal fluency in a group of 182 healthy individuals. The ApaI polymorphism was associated with the general cognitive index and selective attention measure. Carriers of genotype AA displayed higher values of the two parameters than carriers of genotype GG. It was assumed that the ApaI polymorphism of the IGF2 gene influences the human cognitive functions, acting possibly via modulation of the IGF-II level in the central nervous system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, 115522, Russia

    M. V. Alfimova, T. V. Lezheiko & V. E. Golimbet

  2. Scheinfeld Center for Human Genetics in the Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel

    I. K. Gritsenko

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  1. M. V. Alfimova
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  2. T. V. Lezheiko
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  3. I. K. Gritsenko
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  4. V. E. Golimbet
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Correspondence to M. V. Alfimova.

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Original Russian Text © M.V. Alfimova, T.V. Lezheiko, I.K. Gritsenko, V.E. Golimbet, 2012, published in Genetika, 2012, Vol. 48, No. 8, pp. 993–998.

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Alfimova, M.V., Lezheiko, T.V., Gritsenko, I.K. et al. Association of the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) gene with human cognitive functions. Russ J Genet 48, 846–850 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795412080029

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795412080029

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