Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Serum Levels and Hippocampal Volume in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia due to Alzheimer Disease

• Published in: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 559 - 567
• Main Authors: Borba, Ericksen Mielle, Duarte, Juliana Avila, Bristot, Giovana, Scotton, Ellen, Camozzato, Ana Luiza, Chaves, Márcia Lorena Fagundes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 09-12-2016; Karger Publishers
• Subjects: Alzheimer disease; Blood biomarker; Brain atrophy; Hippocampus; Mild cognitive impairment; Original; Original Research Article; Alzheimer disease; Mild cognitive impairment; Hippocampus; Blood biomarker; Brain atrophy
• ISSN: 1664-5464; 1664-5464
• DOI: 10.1159/000450601

Background/Aims: Hippocampal atrophy is a recognized biomarker of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) reduction has been associated with neurodegeneration. We aimed to evaluate BDNF serum levels and hippocampal volume in clinical AD (dementia and mild cognitive impairment [MCI]). Methods: Participants were 10 patients with MCI and 13 with dementia due to AD as well as 10 healthy controls. BDNF serum levels were determined by ELISA and volumetric measures with NeuroQuant®. Results: MCI and dementia patients presented lower BDNF serum levels than healthy participants; dementia patients presented a smaller hippocampal volume than MCI patients and healthy participants. Discussion: The findings support that the decrease in BDNF might start before the establishment of neuronal injury expressed by the hippocampal reduction.