title: Plasma BDNF levels vary in relation to body weight in females.
abstract: Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression as well as neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies show a role of BDNF in energy metabolism and body weight regulation. We examined BDNF levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from age matched elderly depressed and control subjects. Also, the association of BDNF levels with age, gender, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and cognitive performance was evaluated. We did not find any significant differences in plasma and CSF BDNF levels between depressed and control subjects. Plasma BDNF levels were negatively correlated with age (but not with BMI and body weight), when analyses were performed including both depressed and control subjects. A significant reduction in plasma BDNF levels was observed in females as compared to male subjects, and the change in BDNF levels were significantly and positively related to body weight in females. Furthermore, significant increases in Total Recall and Delayed Recall values were found in females as compared to males. In conclusion, the lower BDNF levels observed in females suggest that changes in peripheral BDNF levels are likely secondary to an altered energy balance. However, further studies using larger sample size are warranted.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, USA. apillai@georgiahealth.edu
authors: Anilkumar
authors: A
authors: Pillai
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Bruno
authors: Antero S
authors: AS
authors: Sarreal
authors: Raymundo T
authors: RT
authors: Hernando
authors: Leslie A
authors: LA
authors: Saint-Louis
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Nierenberg
authors: Stephen D
authors: SD
authors: Ginsberg
authors: Nunzio
authors: N
authors: Pomara
authors: Pankaj D
authors: PD
authors: Mehta
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Zetterberg
authors: Kaj
authors: K
authors: Blennow
authors: Peter F
authors: PF
authors: Buckley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor