Assessment of the Dependence of the Val66Met BDNF Polymorphism With the Effectiveness of Gait Rehabilitation in Children and Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with non-progressive damage to the upper motor neuron, which manifests itself in a variety of symptoms, in particular motor and functional deficits. In the rehabilitation of patients with CP, attention is paid to the improvement of mobility, which has a significant impact on the child's development. The effectiveness of rehabilitation depends on the plasticity of the nervous system, which may be genetically determined. Particular attention is paid to polymorphisms of the BDNF gene. There was shown that the Val/Val genotype may predispose to increased improvement in function and its maintenance, while people with the Met allele showed a reduced tendency to improve motor functions, but obtained significantly better results in tests assessing the gait function only indirectly. 50 patients with CP participated in this study, divided into two groups in terms of genotype, and their rehabilitation progress in terms of improved gait function was examined. The results correlate with other studies on the relationship of the BDNF genotype with learning motor functions in CP, and the particularly numerous studies on the relationship of the BDNF genotype with neuroplasticity in patients after stroke. The research can be used as an element of the identification of genetic biomarkers in the rehabilitation of patients with CP, which in the longer term can be used to predict the effects of therapy and the development of personalized medicine. Funding Information: The study was co-financed by the Student Scientific Association of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Declaration of Interests: The Authors state that there is no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Resolution No. 245/20 of March 11, 2020), and participation in the study was voluntary. Parents or legal guardians gave their consent to the child's participation.