Abstract
OBJECTIVE(S): Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a complex heritable condition associated with impairments in multiple neurocognitive domains. Substantial heritability has been reported for DD and related phenotypes, and candidate genes have been identified. Recently, a candidate gene for human cognitive processes, that is, GRIN2B, has been found to be associated significantly with working memory in a German DD sample. In this study, we explored the contribution of six GRIN2B markers to DD and key DD-related phenotypes by association analyses in a sample of Italian nuclear families. Moreover, we assessed potential gene-by-environment interactions on DD-related phenotypes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a family-based association study to determine whether the GRIN2B gene influences both DD as a categorical trait and its related cognitive traits in a large cohort of 466 Italian nuclear families ascertained through a proband affected by DD. Moreover, we tested the role of the selected GRIN2B markers and a set of commonly described environmental moderators using a test for G×E interaction in sib pair-based association analysis of qua ntitative traits in 178 Italian nuclear families.
RESULTS: Evidence for a significant association was found with the categorical diagnosis of DD, performance intelligence quotient, phonemic elision, and auditory short-term memory. No significant gene-by-environment effects were found.
CONCLUSION: Our results add further evidence in support of GRIN2B contributing toward DD and deficits in DD. More specifically, our data support the view that GRIN2B influences DD as a categorical trait and its related quantitative phenotypes, thus shedding further light on the etiologic basis and the phenotypic complexity of this disorder.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 9-20 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Psychiatric Genetics |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 3 2015 |
Keywords
- association study
- developmental dyslexia
- developmental dyslexia-related neuropsychological traits
- gene-by-environment interaction
- GRIN2B
- N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics(clinical)
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Genetics
- Biological Psychiatry
- Medicine(all)