Deletion variant of α2b-adrenergic receptor gene moderates the effect of COMT val158met polymorphism on episodic memory performance

The COMT val158 variant has been associated with impaired cognitive function compared to the met158 variant yet gene–gene interactions are not well described. In this study we demonstrate an interaction between this COMT polymorphism and a deletion variant of ADRA2B, the gene encoding the α2b-adrenergic receptor on episodic memory performance. Specifically, carriage of the ADRA2B deletion abolished the relative memory impairment in homozygous COMT val158 carriers compared to met158 carriers.