An Association Study of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Genes Polymorphisms and Personality Traits

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BNDF) Val66Met 유전자 다형성과 성격 특성에 대한 연합연구

  • Ham, Byung-Joo (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • An, Hwei-Beom (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Cho, Su-Min (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Ryu, Sung-Gon (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Choi, Myoung-Jin (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University) ;
  • Lee, Min-Soo (Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University) ;
  • Choi, Ihn-Geun (Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Hallym University)
  • 함병주 (한림대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실) ;
  • 안희범 (한림대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실) ;
  • 조수민 (한림대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실) ;
  • 류성곤 (한림대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실) ;
  • 최명진 (고려대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 이민수 (고려대학교 의과대학 정신과학교실) ;
  • 최인근 (한림대학교 의과대학 신경정신과학교실)
  • Published : 2005.11.30

Abstract

Background:Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) genes are thought to be important factors in some personality traits. The goal of this study was to determine the role of these genes in personality traits. Method:The participants included 170 healthy adults with no history of psychiatric disorders and other physical illnesses for the last 6 months. All participants were tested by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). BDNF Val64Met gene polymorphisms were analyzed with PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction). Differences on TCI dimensions and sub-scales among groups were examined with ANOVA. Result:There was a significant correlation between BDNF Val64Met and Persistence(PS)(p=0.036) in female subjects, but none with the other TCI dimensions. A post-hoc comparison revealed significant a difference between Val/Val and Met/Met (p=0.031). Conclusion:Our study suggests that the BDNF Val64Met gene polymorphism is associated with persistence in Korean female subjects, but the small number of subjects limits generalization of our results. Further studies with a larger number of homogenous subjects are needed to confirm whether the BDNF gene is related to personality traits.

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