engleski

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration as a predictor of cognitive decline

Aims: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal survival, neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity and cognition. Changes in BDNF signaling and altered concentration of mature BDNF protein were associated with cognitive decline in various disorders related to older age and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but also with stress and trauma related disorder, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are inconsistent data on the association between blood BDNF levels and cognitive decline in different patient’s groups. This study aimed to evaluate cognitive decline and plasma BDNF concentration in male subjects: patients with AD, subjects with MCI, and veterans with combat- related PTSD, and to compare these data in healthy controls, in order to verify if plasma BDNF concentration might be used as an easy obtainable peripheral marker of cognitive worsening in AD, MCI and PTSD. Methods: Diagnoses were made using SCID based on DSM-5 criteria, and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Cognitive decline was assessed using the MMSE and Clock Drawing test (CDT). Plasma BDNF concentration was determined using the commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Plasma BDNF concentration was significantly decreased in patients with MCI or AD and in veterans with PTSD compared to values in healthy control subjects. Cognitive performances, evaluated using the MMSE and CDT scores, were significantly reduced in patients with MCI or AD and in veterans with PTSD compared to scores in healthy control subjects. Subjects with MCI and veterans with PTSD had comparable, reduced plasma BDNF concentration and decreased MMSE and CDT scores that were significantly different from the values in healthy control subjects. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that plasma BDNF concentration was reduced in different groups of cognitively impaired subjects, such as those with MCI, AD and PTSD, and might be used as a biomarker of cognitive worsening in these participants. These data also advise that veterans with PTSD should be further evaluated with additional cognitive tests of with to be able to early detect and predict cognitive dysfunction. Strategies that might help restore blood BDNF levels and improve cognitive functions are recommended for cognitively impaired participants.

Alzheimer’s disease ; brain-derived neurotrophic factor ; cognition ; mild cognitive impairment ; post-traumatic stress disorder

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