Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Wiener, M.
Genetic Links of Implicit Learning in Anorexia Nervosa
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medizinische Universität Graz; 2023. pp. 67
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Bengesser Susanne
- Leal Garcia Sabrina
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Introduction: Fronto-striatal alterations are associated with difficulties in implicit learning in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN). Thus far, theories pertaining to this impairment’s pathophysiology have been proposed but not further explored. Concurrently, the first large genome-wide association study (GWAS) for AN has emerged in 2019, confirming that a substantial genetic link is present in the disorder. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether different genotypes of newly discovered candidate genes of AN are associated with implicit learning task scores. Methods: In a pilot-study, 25 patients with AN and 56 healthy controls (HC) completed the Weather Prediction Task (WPT), a probabilistic implicit learning task which shows activation of the ventral striatum during its feedback (FB) variant, and activation of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) during its paired-associate (PA) variant. Through analysis of variance (ANOVA), results of the WPT were then associated with different genotypes of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) that display association with genes related to AN. DNA isolation of blood samples was performed using QIAGEN’s QIAsymphony SP robot, whereas genotyping occurred at the Life & Brain Center Bonn through use of Illumina’s Infinium Global Screening Array-24 v3.0 Kit. Genotypes were extracted using PLINK1.9. Results: AN patients scored significantly lower on the FB version of the WPT, both in comparison to the HC group (p = .001) and to their own performance on the PA version (p = .006). Low scores in the AN group were associated with the CT genotype of rs4307059 (CDH10 gene) (p = .025). No such association was found in the HC group (p = .334). Discussion: These results further reinforce the importance of genetics on the pathophysiology of AN and its dysfunctional brain circuits. Through mediation of tissue differentiation and synapse strength stabilization, cadherins and their related genes may play a crucial role in the striatal deterioration that AN patients are subject to. This thesis hopes to spark further research on genetic links of cognition in AN. In particular, a larger study population and analyses on a polygenic level would be needed to verify this thesis’ results and draw definite conclusions on the topic.