Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2015 Dec;13(3):283-287. 10.9758/cpn.2015.13.3.283.

Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Korean Individuals

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea. npkyh@chol.com
  • 2Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that is widely expressed in the mammalian brain and acts to regulate neuronal survival and influence cognitive processes. The present study measured serum BDNF levels to investigate the associations of the BDNF Val66Met and 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms with cognitive function in elderly Korean individuals.
METHODS
Over 60 years, a total of 834 subjects were recruited for the present study. The subjects were classified into groups based on the degree of cognitive impairment (age-associated cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease) and compared with normal controls in terms of a neuropsychological assessment and a clinical evaluation.
RESULTS
Of the initial 834 study participants, 165 (59 controls and 106 subjects with cognitive impairments) completed the study. There was a significant increase in serum BDNF levels in subjects with cognitive impairments relative to the control group and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was significantly associated with cognitive function but not serum BDNF levels. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism did not have any associations with cognitive impairment or serum BDNF levels.
CONCLUSION
The present findings suggest that BDNF may play a role in the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may be an important factor in the susceptibility to these age-related deficits.

Keyword

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Dementia; Cognition; Genetic polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Brain
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor*
Cognition
Dementia
Humans
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Neurons
Polymorphism, Genetic
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Serotonin
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Serotonin
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