title: Potential therapeutic uses of BDNF in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
abstract: The growth factor brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase receptor type B (TRKB) are actively produced and trafficked in multiple regions in the adult brain, where they influence neuronal activity, function and survival throughout life. The diverse presence and activity of BDNF suggests a potential role for this molecule in the pathogenesis and treatment of both neurological and psychiatric disorders. This article reviews the current understanding and future directions in BDNF-related research in the central nervous system, with an emphasis on the possible therapeutic application of BDNF in modifying fundamental processes underlying neural disease.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neural Repair, Department of Neurosciences 0626, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nagahara
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tuszynski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D057890:Epigenomics; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor