Ann Rehabil Med.  2014 Oct;38(5):658-664. 10.5535/arm.2014.38.5.658.

Reduction of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation-Induced Motor Plasticity in Healthy Elderly With COMT Val158Met Polymorphism

• Lee NJ
• Ahn HJ
• Jung KI
• Ohn SH
• Hong J
• Kim YJ
• Yoo WK

• KMID: 2266500
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2014.38.5.658

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To delineate whether cortical plasticity induced by continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) differed according to catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism in healthy older adults.
METHODS
Eighteen healthy older volunteers (mean age 73.78+/-5.04; 12 females and 6 males) were recruited. Volunteers randomly assigned in either a sham-first or real cTBS first group participated in two separate TMS visits with at least a 2-day wash-out period. Genotyping was carried out at baseline by a separate researcher who was blinded. cTBS was delivered in a hot spot over M1 at an active motor threshold of 80%. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were obtained at 120% of the resting motor threshold before and after sham/cTBS.
RESULTS
The relative MEP to baseline was significantly decreased 0 and 10 minutes post-stimulation and increased 40 minutes post-stimulation, as compared with the sham condition. Immediately after cTBS, the Val/Val group had a significantly reduced relative MEP value, as compared with the MET carrier group.
CONCLUSION
In healthy older persons, cTBS-induced motor plasticity was reduced in the COMT Val/Val group as compared with the 158Met carrier group.

Keyword

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Catechol-O-methyltransferase; Neuronal plasticity; Genetic polymorphism; Motor cortex

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged*
Catechol O-Methyltransferase
Evoked Potentials, Motor
Female
Humans
Motor Cortex
Neuronal Plasticity
Plastics*
Polymorphism, Genetic
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Volunteers
Catechol O-Methyltransferase
Plastics

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Timeline of an experimental session. MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MEP, motor evoked potential; cTBS, continuous theta burst stimulation.

• 

  Fig. 2 Motor evoked potential (MEP) changes after continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) and sham stimulation (*p<0.05).

• 

  Fig. 3 Motor evoked potential (MEP) changes postcTBS between the Met carrier group and Val/Val group (*p<0.05). cTBS, continuous theta burst stimulation.

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