Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are specifically associated with memory performance among Alzheimer's disease cases.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to study the link between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and neuropsychological functioning through the Texas Alzheimer's Research Consortium cohort.


METHODS
A total of 399 participants [probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) n = 198, controls n = 201] were available for analysis. The BDNF levels were assayed via multiplex immunoassay. Regression analyses were utilized to examine the relation between BDNF levels and neuropsychological functioning.


RESULTS
There were no significant mean differences in BDNF levels between cases and controls. In the AD group, the BDNF levels were significantly negatively associated with the scores on immediate [B = -0.07 (0.02), t = -3.55, p = 0.001] and delayed [B = -0.05 (0.02), t = -2.79, p = 0.01] verbal memory and immediate [B = -0.12 (0.05), t = -2.70, p = 0.01] visual memory. No other neuropsychological variables were significantly related to the BDNF levels. The BDNF levels were not significantly related to the neuropsychological test scores in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased serum BDNF levels were associated with poorer visual and verbal memory, but only among AD cases. The current findings point toward an upregulation of serum BDNF as one possible mechanism linked to memory disturbances in AD though it does not appear to be linked to disease severity.
Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. sid.obryant@ttuhsc.edu
Sid E
SE
O'Bryant
Valerie L
VL
Hobson
James R
JR
Hall
Robert C
RC
Barber
Song
S
Zhang
Leigh
L
Johnson
Ramon
R
Diaz-Arrastia
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor