Features of cognitive and non-cognitive indicators of mental health associated with the VAL158MET polymorphism of the COMT gene in adolescents of school age

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PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To determine the features associated with the val158met polymorphism of the COMT gene cognitive and non-cognitive indicators of mental health of adolescents of school age.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 198 adolescent schoolchildren aged 14—15 years, a genetic study of the val158met polymorphism of the COMT gene was carried out, followed by the formation of three groups: carriers of the val/val genotypes (1st group ); val/met (2nd group) and met/met (3rd group). In adolescents of the studied groups, a comparative assessment of the level of anxiety, negative emotional experiences, stress and stress resistance was carried out.

RESULTS

It has been established that the polymorphism of the COMT val158met gene (1947 G/A; GenBank Z26491; dbSNP: rs4680) in the met/met variant relative to these carriers of the val/val variant determines an increase in anxiety, stress, negative emotional experiences, a decrease in stress resistance, while indicators of cognitive activity in the educational sphere and the functional state of the central nervous system.

CONCLUSION

Genetic variations that reduce the activity of the COMT enzyme lead to a deterioration in non-cognitive emotional and an increase in cognitive mental health indicators of school-age adolescents, which necessitates the introduction of more effective and personalized methods for the prevention of adolescent mental health disorders aimed at optimizing the work of the dopaminergic system in adolescence.

Keywords:

COMT gene val158met polymorphism

anxiety

stress

resistance to stress

cognitive activity

central nervous system

school-age adolescents

Authors:

Bulycheva E.V.

Orenburg State Medical University

Received:

19.08.2021

Accepted:

10.01.2022

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