Stuttering candidate genes DRD2 but not SLC6A3 is associated with developmental dyslexia in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND

Dyslexia is a polygenic developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in reading and spelling despite normal intelligence, educational backgrounds and perception. Increasing evidences indicated that dyslexia may share similar genetic mechanisms with other speech and language disorders. We proposed that stuttering candidate genes, DRD2 and SLC6A3, might be associated with dyslexia.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

The study was conducted in an unrelated Chinese cohort with 502 dyslexic cases and 522 healthy controls. In total, 23 Tag SNPs covering the two genes were selected for genotyping through Tagger program. Association analysis was performed on each SNP alone and in haplotypes. One SNP markers in DRD2 showed significant association with developmental dyslexia.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that polymorphism of DRD2 gene may be a risk factor of developmental dyslexia in the Chinese population.