title: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Delayed Verbal Recall in Crack/Cocaine Dependents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Considering the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in memory processes and its peripheral response during the detoxification of cocaine, the aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma BDNF levels could be related to memory performance in women with crack/cocaine dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five abstinent female crack/cocaine users (CCD) and 25 unmedicated healthy women (HW), carefully matched for age and years of formal education, were assessed regarding memory performance. Logical Memory was used to assess the immediate verbal recall (IVR), delayed verbal recall (DVR) and memory retention. Plasma BDNF levels were measured by Elisa immunoassay. Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms, and the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment the severity of cocaine abstinence symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CCD group had lower DVR scores and higher plasma BDNF levels when compared to HW group. In addition, a linear regression model showed that BDNF levels predicted DVR scores within CCD group independently of depressive symptoms (R = 0.51; R(2) = 0.26; t(22) = 4.025, p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite higher plasma BDNF levels, crack users exhibited memory impairments when compared to healthy women. Specifically, peripheral BDNF levels predicted better cognitive performance only within individuals who already had cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Pediatria e Saúde da Criança, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Wendt
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: Saulo Gantes
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tractenberg
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kluwe-Schiavon
authors.forename: Mateus Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Levandowski
authors.forename: Breno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sanvicente-Vieira
authors.forename: Luis Eduardo
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Wearick-Silva
authors.forename: Lucas Araújo
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: de Azeredo
authors.forename: Antônio Lucio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grassi-Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016578:Crack Cocaine; C579455:BDNF protein, human