Antenatal maternal stress and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Rs165599 polymorphism interact to affect childhood IQ across multiple ages
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1
University of Auckland, Psychology, New Zealand
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2
University of Auckland, Paediatrics, New Zealand
Background
While antenatal maternal stress has been associated with a range of adverse outcomes in offspring, there is considerable individual variation in the presence and severity of these. The Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene has been linked to differential susceptibility to the consequences of antenatal stress. This study examined a functional polymorphism of the COMT gene (Rs165599) in relation to maternal perceived stress and childhood cognitive performance, using data from the longitudinal Auckland Birthweight Collaborative (ABC) study.
Methods
DNA samples were collected from 546 of the child participants at 11 years. The main independent variable was maternal perceived stress over the prior month, measured at birth, 3.5 and 7 years. Offspring Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ), the outcome, was measured at ages 7 and 11.
Results
The analysis revealed significant main effects of antenatal maternal stress, maternal stress at 3.5 years and maternal stress at 7 years on offspring FSIQ. A significant interaction also showed that children exposed to high maternal antenatal stress had significantly lower FSIQ scores at both 7 and 11 years of age when compared to those exposed to low stress, only when they had at least one copy of the Rs165599 G allele. This difference was of approximately five IQ points at each age.
Discussion
The adverse impact of antenatal stress exposure on offspring cognition extends to mid-childhood and early adolescence. The G allele of the Rs165599 polymorphism may confer genetic susceptibility to negative cognitive outcomes arising from exposure to antenatal stress. This highlights the importance of considering gene-environment interactions when investigating the outcomes of antenatal stress exposure.
Acknowledgements
The initial study was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. The 12 month postal questionnaire was funded by Hawkes Bay Medical Research Foundation. The 3.5 year follow-up study was funded by Child Health Research Foundation (now called Cure Kids), Becroft Foundation and Auckland Medical Research Foundation. The 7 year follow-up study was funded by Child Health Research Foundation (now called Cure Kids). The 11 year follow-up was funded by Cure Kids and the National Heart Foundation. The genetic component of this study was funded by Cure Kids. EA Mitchell and JMD Thompson are supported by CureKids. The 3½, 7 and 11 year follow-ups were conducted in the Children’s Research Centre which is supported in part by the Starship Foundation and the Auckland District Health Board. We acknowledge the assistance of Gail Gillies, Barbara Rotherham, and Helen Nagels for contacting or assessing the participants. We sincerely thank the parents and children for participating in this study.
Keywords:
COMT,
gene-environment interaction,
maternal stress,
Child Development,
Longitudinal
Conference:
ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia, 28 Nov - 1 Dec, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Other
Citation:
Lamb
YN,
Thompson
JM,
Kirk
IJ,
Mitchell
EA and
Waldie
KE
(2013). Antenatal maternal stress and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Rs165599 polymorphism interact to affect childhood IQ across multiple ages.
Conference Abstract:
ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.212.00083
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Received:
25 Sep 2013;
Published Online:
25 Nov 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Yvette N Lamb, University of Auckland, Psychology, Auckland, New Zealand, yvettenicolelamb@gmail.com