Family-based association study between brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in UK and Taiwanese samples

Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2007 Jan 5;144B(1):83-6. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.30406.

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in normal neuronal development. Several lines of evidence implicate the involvement of BDNF in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study investigated the role of two common BDNF variants (Val66Met, C270T) in two samples of ADHD probands from the United Kingdom (n = 180) and Taiwan (n = 212). We found evidence of increased transmission of the C allele of the C270T in Taiwanese samples (TDT: chi(2) = 6.78, P = 0.009) and the two samples pooled together (TDT: chi(2) = 7.24, P = 0.007). No association was found between the Val66Met polymorphism and ADHD in either of the two populations. Analysis of haplotypes demonstrated a significant decreased transmission of haplotypes containing the Val66 allele and the 270T allele in the Taiwanese samples (TDT: chi(2) = 4.57, P = 0.032) and the pooled sample set (TDT: chi(2) = 5.82, P = 0.016). This study provides evidence for the possible involvement of BDNF in susceptibility to ADHD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / metabolism
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parents
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor