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In a significant step forward, findings from the largest study of genetics of memory ever undertaken indicate that there are two common genetic variants believed to be associated with memory performance.

Underpinning the study, done by researchers from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) at the University of New South Wales, is the increased prevalence of memory impairment and dementia world-wide. The effort is aimed at deciphering the underlying mechanisms of human memory.

The Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium, which includes scientists from both CHeBA and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), aims to study the entire genome by pooling of data from research centres across the world.

Almost 30,000 participants who did not have dementia were included in the study. Every participant completed memory tests, such as word recall. Their complete genome was then genotyped.

Using sophisticated statistical analysis, the genome was examined for segments that were associated with low memory scores. CHeBA鈥檚 Dr Karen Mather said the ultimate aim is to gain a better understanding of the biology underlying age-related memory performance and decline.

鈥淭his study suggests that in addition to genetic variants near the Alzheimer鈥檚 disease risk gene, apolipoprotein E, the immune system is also involved in age-related performance on memory tests,鈥� Dr Mather said.

UNSW Scientia Proessor and Co-Director of CHeBA聽 Perminder Sachdev said: 鈥淲e hope that in the future such studies will translate into improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of memory performance and possibly strategies to prevent memory decline鈥�.

This world-wide collaboration has generated novel important hypotheses on the biological underpinnings of memory decline in old age, however the researchers caution that more research is clearly needed to confirm these findings.

Lead author and Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurology at BUSM St茅phanie Debette, MD, PhD, said: 鈥淭he differential associations according to memory test characteristics and age should be accounted for in future studies. Exploring other types of genetic variation, including rare variants and epigenetic modifications, will be crucial to decipher the full spectrum of memory heritability".

This overall analysis study, published in the journal of Biological Psychiatry, was supported by the National Institutes of Health USA, and CHeBA鈥檚 work by the NHMRC