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Human Molecular Genetics Advance Access published online on June 29, 2005
Human Molecular Genetics, doi:10.1093/hmg/ddi228
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved
Received May 2, 2005
Revised June 23, 2005
Accepted June 23, 2005

Article

The prion gene is associated with human long-term memory

Andreas Papassotiropoulos 1*, M. Axel Wollmer 2, Adriano Aguzzi 3, Christoph Hock 2, Roger M. Nitsch 2, and Dominique J.-F. de Quervain 2

1 Division of Psychiatry Research, University of Zurich, Lenggstr. 31, PO Box 1931, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
2 Division of Psychiatry Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland
3 Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Andreas Papassotiropoulos, E-mail: papas{at}bli.unizh.ch


  Abstract

Human cognitive processes are highly variable across individuals and are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Whereas genetic variations affect short-term memory in humans, it is unknown whether genetic variability has also an impact on long-term memory. Because prion-like conformational changes may be involved in the induction of long-lasting synaptic plasticity, we examined the impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the prion protein gene (PRNP) on long-term memory in healthy young humans. SNPs in the genomic region of PRNP were associated with better long-term memory performance in two independent populations with different educational background. Among the examined PRNP SNPs the common Met129Val polymorphism yielded the highest effect size. Twenty-four hours after a word list learning task, carriers of either the 129MM or the 129MV genotype recalled 17% more information than 129VV carriers, whereas short-term memory was unaffected. These results suggest a role for the prion protein in the formation of long-term memory in humans.


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