title: Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor is associated with reduced appetite in healthy older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Loss of appetite and body mass are common in older adults and are associated with negative consequences. Research indicates that these processes likely involve increases in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Animal and human models demonstrate that BDNF may serve a regulatory function in food intake, but no study has addressed the possibility that BDNF may be involved in appetite reduction and loss of body mass in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  34 older adults without significant neurological or psychiatric history underwent fasting blood draw and measurement of body composition. Appetite and eating behavior were assessed by questionnaire and related to serum BDNF levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partial correlations showed serum BDNF levels were inversely related to appetite (r = -.38, p = .02). No significant correlations emerged between serum BDNF and age, diet, or body composition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study extends past work and shows that BDNF is associated with appetite in healthy older adults. Further work is needed to clarify mechanisms for these findings, particularly prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stanek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leahey
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glickman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spitznagel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juvancic Heltzel
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human