Synergistic effects of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and hypertension on spatial navigation

Navigation skills deteriorate with age, but the mechanisms of the decline are poorly understood. Part of the decrement may be due to age-related vascular risk factors. The T allele in a C677T variant in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is associated with elevated plasma homocysteine, which is detrimental to vascular integrity and has been linked to cognitive decline. We inquired if a combination of physiological (hypertension) and genetic (MTHFR 677T) vascular risks has a synergistic negative impact on cognitive performance in otherwise healthy adults. We tested 160 participants (18–80 years old) on a virtual water maze. Advanced age, female sex, and hypertension were associated with poorer performance. However, hypertensive carriers of the T allele performed significantly worse than the rest of the participants at all ages. These findings indicate that hypertension combined with a genetic vascular risk factor may significantly increase risk for cognitive impairment.