The CACNA1C gene is strongly implicated in the etiology of multiple major neuropsychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia, with cognitive deficits being a common feature.
BDNF and CACNA1C are two susceptibility genes for the disorder that have also been reported to be associated with cognitive deficits in the disorder, but the studies have been small and with conflicting results.
Recent genomewide association studies have implicated the calcium channel, voltage-dependent, L type, alpha 1C subunit (CACNA1C) genetic variant in schizophrenia, which is associated with functional brain changes and cognitive deficits in healthy individuals.