Long-term exposure to black carbon, cognition and single nucleotide polymorphisms in microRNA processing genes in older men.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Air pollution exposure has been linked to impaired cognitive aging, but little is known about biomarkers modifying this association. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control gene expression and neuronal programming. miRNA levels vary due to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes processing miRNAs from precursor molecules.

Objectives

To investigate whether SNPs in miRNA-processing genes are associated with cognition and modify the relationship between black carbon (BC), marker of traffic-related pollution, and cognitive functions.

Methods

533 Normative Aging Study men (mean±SD 72±7years) were tested ≤4 times (mean=1.7 times) using seven cognitive tests between 1995 and 2007. We tested interactions of 16 miRNA-related SNPs with 1-year average BC from a validated

SUBMITTER: Colicino E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4755894 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature