An association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and impulsivity in methamphetamine abusers

•We genotyped the BDNF rs6265 gene polymorphism in methamphetamine-abuse patients.•We assessed impulsivity by Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 Chinese version.•No association was found between methamphetamine abuse and the polymorphism.•BIS attentional impulsivity score was lower in Val/Val carriers of rs6265.•The polymorphism may contribute to age of onset of methamphetamine use. Recent studies showed an association between a functional polymorphism of BDNF gene (Val66Met) and the susceptibility to methamphetamine addiction. We hypothesized that this polymorphism was associated with methamphetamine abuse and impulsivity in methamphetamine-abuse patients. The polymorphism was genotyped in 200 methamphetamine-abuse patients and 219 healthy controls. The association of the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene and impulsivity in 138 methamphetamine abusers were assessed using Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11(BIS-11) Chinese version. The relationship between the polymorphism and age of onset of methamphetamine abuse was also examined. Our results showed no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between the methamphetamine abusers and controls. Within the methamphetamine-abuse group, subjects carried the Met allele had significantly higher attentional impulsivity scores of BIS compared to those with the Val/Val genotype. The Met allele was also associated with earlier age onset of methamphetamine use. Our findings suggest that the BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism may influence attentional impulsivity in methamphetamine abusers. Moreover, the BDNF Val66Met gene polymorphism may contribute to onset age of methamphetamine use.