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. 2023 Jan 1;128(1):1-20.
doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-128.1.1.

FMR1 CGG Repeats and Stress Influence Self-Reported Cognitive Functioning in Mothers

Nell Maltman  1 , Leann Smith DaWalt  1 , Jinkuk Hong  1 , Mei Wang Baker  2 , Elizabeth M Berry-Kravis  3 , Murray H Brilliant  4 , Marsha Mailick  4
Affiliations

FMR1 CGG Repeats and Stress Influence Self-Reported Cognitive Functioning in Mothers

Nell Maltman et al. Am J Intellect Dev Disabil. .

Abstract

Variation in the FMR1 gene may affect aspects of cognition, such as executive function and memory. Environmental factors, such as stress, may also negatively impact cognitive functioning. Participants included 1,053 mothers of children with and without developmental disabilities. Participants completed self-report measures of executive function, memory, and stress (i.e., life events, parenting status), and provided DNA to determine CGG repeat length (ranging from 7 to 192 CGGs). Stress exposure significantly predicted greater self-reported difficulties in executive function and the likelihood of memory problems. Cubic CGG effects independently predicted executive function and memory difficulties, suggesting effects of both genetic variation and environmental stress exposure on cognitive functioning.

Keywords: FMR1; CGG repeats; cognitive functioning; executive function; memory; stress.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cubic Association Between CGG Repeat Length and Executive Function Difficulty
Figure 2
Figure 2. Cubic Association Between CGG Repeat Length and Self-Reported Memory Problems
Note. Self-reported memory problems reflect the following scale: 0 (no memory problems), 1 (problems with memory, but not diagnosed by a health professional), 2 (diagnosis of memory problems).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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