Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Alzheimer's Disease

Article type: Research Article

Authors: O'Bryant, Sid E.^{a; *} | Hobson, Valerie^b | Hall, James R.^c | Waring, Stephen C.^d | Chan, Wenyan^e | Massman, Paul^{f; g} | Lacritz, Laura^h | Cullum, C. Munro^{h; i} | Diaz-Arrastia, Ramonⁱ

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA | [b] Department of Psychology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA | [c] Department of Psychiatry, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA | [d] University of Texas Health Science Center, Division of Epidemiology, Houston, TX, USA | [e] University of Texas Health Science Center, Division of Epidemiology, Houston, TX, USA | [f] Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA | [g] Department of Psychology University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA | [h] Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA | [i] Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Sid E. O'Bryant, Ph.D., Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Department of Neurology, 3601 4th St. STOP 8321, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. Tel.: +806 743 4999 ext 270; Fax: +806 743 1147; E-mail: sid.obryant@ttuhsc.edu.

Note: [] Communicated by Marwan Sabbagh

Abstract: The current search for biomarkers that are diagnostic and/or prognostic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is of vital importance given the rapidly aging population. It was recently reported that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) fluctuated according to AD severity, suggesting that BDNF might have utility for diagnostics and monitoring of therapeutic efficacy. The current study sought to examine whether BDNF levels varied according to AD severity, as previously reported. There were 196 participants (Probable AD, n = 98; Controls, n = 98) in the Texas Alzheimer's Research Consortium (TARC) Longitudinal Research Cohort available for analysis. BDNF levels were assayed via multiplex immunoassay. Regression analyses were utilized to examine the relation between BDNF levels, Mini-Mental Status Examination, and Clinical Dementia Rating scores adjusting for age and gender. In adjusted models, BDNF levels did not distinguish between AD patients and normal controls and did not significantly predict AD severity or global cognitive functioning. In conclusion, these findings do not support the notion that BDNF serves as a diagnostic marker for AD or disease severity. It is likely that the most accurate approach to identifying biomarkers of AD will be through an algorithmic approach that combines multiple markers reflective of various pathways.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, biomarkers, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, clinical dementia rating, dementia severity

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2009-1051

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 337-341, 2009