Features of cognitive mental processes and neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system in firefighters depending on polymorphisms of the regulators’ genes of the brain monoamine system

Abstract

Introduction. Firefighters' performance of their occupational duties is associated with significant psycho-emotional stress, as well as the complex influence of harmful and dangerous factors that are a source of risk to their health and life. One of the most important modern tasks of vocational training of employees in the EMERCOM of Russia is the problem of assessing psychophysiological reserves. Сurrently, traditional methods of psychological and psychophysiological testing do not allow a full assessment of psychophysiological reserves, because the degree of adaptation to extreme loads is determined by hereditary traits.
 Objective: based on the analysis of neurodynamic and cognitive functions, to determine the genotypes of genes responsible for monoamine regulation of the brain, associated with high adaptive capabilities to long-term exposure to harmful factors of occupational activity of firefighters.
 Methods: As part of the work, 453 people were examined, of which 234 people were the main group (firefighters), and 219 people were the control group. Testing was carried out using the following methods: "Correction test with Landolt rings", "Mnsterberg test" and "Schulte tables", "Reaction to a moving object", "Simple visual-motor reaction" and KR-3-85 test batteries. Genotyping was performed using 5 candidate genes 5-HTTLPR or 5HTT, 5HT2A, COMT, DRD1, DRD2 / ANKK1.
 Results: Analysis of the results of the study of indicators of attention, neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system and cognitive mental processes in the comparison groups, depending on the nature of the occupational tasks performed and employment duration, indicates the strain of the functional systems of the body during long-term work (more than 5 years) in the main study group ( firefighters). Firefighters carrying 5HTT L / L, 5HT2A C / C, COMT Val / Val, DRD2 / ANKK1 Glu / Glu genotypes, according to the results of most of the methods used, have statistically significantly higher rates than firefighters, carriers of 5HTT S / S, 5HT2A T / genotypes T, COMT Met / Met, DRD2 / ANKK1 Lis / Lis and at the same time lower indicators compared to individuals with similar genotypes from the control group.
 Conclusion: The conducted studies have shown that there are no changes in the level of attention and neurodynamic properties of the central nervous system depending on the polymorphic variants of the DRD1 gene, and the indicators of cognitive mental processes in the control and main groups differ depending on the polymorphic variants of the COMT gene. The findings indicate the expediency of practical application of studies of the 5HTT, 5HT2A, and DRD2 / ANKK1 genes. The use of molecular genetic criteria will allow to make timely management decisions to preserve the health and professional longevity of firefighters, as well as to increase the efficiency of using robotic equipment in fire extinguishing, which will help to reduce material damage, sanitary and irreparable losses during emergency response.