Increase of BDNF serum concentration in lithium treated patients with early Alzheimer's disease.
Preclinical and clinical studies gave evidence that lithium could be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In experimental investigations, lithium induces brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Recent studies have found a decrease of BDNF in the serum and brains of AD patients with potentially consecutive lack of neurotrophic support. We assessed the influence of a lithium treatment on BDNF serum concentration in a subset of a greater sample recruited for a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group multicenter 10-week study, investigating the efficacy of lithium treatment in AD patients. In AD patients treated with lithium, a significant increase of BDNF serum levels, and additionally a significant decrease of ADAS-Cog sum scores in comparison to placebo-treated patients, were found. Diminution of cognitive impairment was inversely correlated with lithium serum concentration. Upregulation of BDNF might be part of a neuroprotective effect of lithium in AD patients. The results of the present investigation encourage performing studies with longer treatment phases to observe potential positive long-term effects of lithium in AD patients.
Leyhe
Thomas
T
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. thomas.leyhe@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Eschweiler
Gerhard W
GW
Stransky
Elke
E
Gasser
Thomas
T
Annas
Peter
P
Basun
Hans
H
Laske
Christoph
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000097:blood; D010919:Placebos; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010919:Placebos