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Verified by National Taiwan University Hospital, July 2008
First Received: July 9, 2008   Last Updated: October 22, 2008   History of Changes
Sponsored by: National Taiwan University Hospital
Information provided by: National Taiwan University Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00713570
  Purpose

Genetic research has provided the most exciting breakthroughs in neuroscience and cognitive science. Partially genetically determined cognitive impairments have been described in people with COMT, 5HT6, BDNF (Swillen et al., 2000; Moss et al., 1999, Henry et al., 2002, Bilder et al., 2002) Selective inhibitors of COMT proved to improve cognitive function in animals and in patients with Parkinson's disease (Carlsson, et al, 2000). Recent studies suggested that variation in COMT activity might have neurobiological effects specific to the prefrontal cortex; the COMT (Val) allele with high activity impairs tasks of prefrontal cognition in people with schizophrenia (Egan et al., 2001) and higher loading of the COMT (Met) allele is associated with better cognitive performance on attention and processing speed in people with chronic schizophrenia (Bilder et al., 2002). Moreover, prefrontal dopamine levels are increased in COMT knockout mouse model (Gogos et al., 1998). This suggests that in people who have heterozygosis on COMT, dopamine levels could be abnormal. Thus, variation in COMT expression could also affect performance on prefrontal cognitive tasks. In the previous study, we found the neuropsychological profile in students with COMT (Met) allele is better in object perception, problem solving and planning, and abstract and social thinking (Henry et al., 2002). 5-HT6 inhibitor has been reported to raise extracellular acetylcholine levels in the cortex and hippocampus (Dawson et al., 2001 and Riemer et al., 2003). Acetylcholine release in hippocampal and cortical regions is known to be important for memory acquisition and retention, and several groups have demonstrated that 5-HT6 blockade overcomes scopolamine-induced amnesia. We hypothesize that variations in COMT and 5-HT6 are associated with genotype that will cause a poor/better performance in cognitive tasks. With the aim to establish the possible correlation between candidate genes (COMT, 5HT6,BDNF, etc) and cognitive ability, which will provide us an understanding on factors and its extent that affect students' thinking, and then develop appropriate teaching models or strategies for assisting students in learning. It seems timely, therefore, to consider how we might implement our increased understanding of brain development and brain function to explore educational questions.


Condition
Healthy

Study Type: Observational
Study Design: Cohort, Retrospective
Official Title: the Cognitive Ability Dose Associate With COMT, 5HT6, BDNF Candidate Genetic Polymorphism in General Population

Resource links provided by NLM:


Further study details as provided by National Taiwan University Hospital:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • observational studies, related to core objectives of the study and learning. [ Time Frame: at least two years follow ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Biospecimen Retention:   Samples With DNA

Biospecimen Description:

Estimated Enrollment: 2000
Study Start Date: August 2006
Estimated Primary Completion Date: July 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Groups/Cohorts
A,1,II

  Show Detailed Description

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   16 Years to 65 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Sampling Method:   Probability Sample
Study Population

Taiwan genernal population

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy volunteers with inform concern
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00713570

Contacts
Contact: Chung-Yi Hu, PhD 886-2-23123456 ext 66914 jcyhu@ntu.edu.tw
Contact: Chun-Yen Chang, PhD 886-2-29354393 changcy@ntnu.edu.tw

Locations
Taiwan
Chung-Yi Hu Recruiting
Taipei, Taiwan
Contact: Chung Yi Hu, PhD     886-2-23123456 ext 66914     jcyhu@ntu.edu.tw    
Contact: Chun Yeh Chanf, PhD     886-2-29354393     changcy@ntnu.edu.tw    
Principal Investigator: Chun Yen Chang, PhD            
Sponsors and Collaborators
National Taiwan University Hospital
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Chung Yi Hu, PhD Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechonology
Principal Investigator: Chun Yen Chang, PhD Professor of Department of Earth Sciences Director of Science Education Center,PI of Building the e-Learning Research Teams for Excellence National Taiwan Normal University
Principal Investigator: Ting Chi Yeh, MD Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Mackay Memorial Hospital
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: National Taiwan University Hospital ( National Taiwan University Hospital Research Ethics Committee )
Study ID Numbers: 200612069R
Study First Received: July 9, 2008
Last Updated: October 22, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00713570     History of Changes
Health Authority: Taiwan: Department of Health

Keywords provided by National Taiwan University Hospital:
intellectual functioning
memory,visual-spatial and perceptual function
cognitive ability
COMT
BDNF
Taiwan
Healthy subjects

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Healthy
Serotonin

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 03, 2009