Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum levels correlate with cognitive performance in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Alberto Costa,Giovanni Augusto Carlesimo,Antonella Peppe,Carlo Caltagirone,Francesco Scalici,Francesco Angelucci,Silvia Zabberoni

doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00253

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a trophic factor regulating cell survival and synaptic plasticity. Recent findings indicate that BDNF could be a potential regulatory factor for cognitive functioning in normal and/or neuropathological conditions. With regard to neurological disorders, recent data suggest that individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be affected by cognitive deficits and that they have altered BDNF production. Therefore, the hypothesis can be advanced that BDNF levels are associated with the cognitive state of these patients. With this in mind, the present study was aimed at exploring the relationship between BDNF serum levels and cognitive functioning in PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thirteen PD patients with MCI were included in the study. They were administered an extensive neuropsychological test battery that investigated executive, episodic memory, attention, visual-spatial and language domains. A single score was obtained for each cognitive domain by averaging z-scores on tests belonging to that specific domain. BDNF serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Pearson’s correlation analyses were performed between BDNF serum levels and cognitive performance. Results showed a significant positive correlation between BDNF serum levels and both attention (p < 0.05) and executive (p < 0.05) domains. Moreover, in the executive domain we found a significant correlation between BDNF levels and scores on tests assessing working memory and self-monitoring/inhibition. These preliminary data suggest that BDNF serum levels are associated with cognitive state in PD patients with MCI. Given the role of BDNF in regulating synaptic plasticity, the present findings give further support to the hypothesis that this trophic factor may be a potential biomarker for evaluating cognitive changes in PD and other neurological syndromes associated with cognitive decline.

Highlights

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) belongs to the family of neurotrophins that regulate the survival and functioning of neurons in the central nervous system (Baydyuk and Xu, 2014)
This study investigated the association between cognitive functioning and BDNF serum level in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
The results showed a positive association between BDNF serum levels and performance on neuropsychological tests investigating executive functioning and attention

Summary

Introduction

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) belongs to the family of neurotrophins that regulate the survival and functioning of neurons in the central nervous system (Baydyuk and Xu, 2014). Successive studies found that its action on neurons is trophic but involves the regulation of synaptic plasticity through the activation of signal transduction pathways that influence the release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate and GABA (Gottmann et al, 2009). These effects on synaptic transmission have been associated with the long-term potentiation that takes place in the hippocampus during learning and memory processes (Leal et al, 2014). Larger sample-size and multiethnicity studies with homogeneous PD patients and well-matched controls are needed in the future study

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Conclusion