Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and electroconvulsive therapy in a schizoaffective patient with treatment-resistant paranoid-hallucinatory symptoms

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1148-1148
Author(s):  
G. Martinotti ◽  
V. Ricci ◽  
M. Di Nicola ◽  
C. Caltagirone ◽  
P. Bria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
General Improvement ◽  
The Relationship

It has been proposed that deficits in the production and the utilization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. At the same time, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been shown to induce a robust increase of BDNF protein in animal models. These findings suggest that one putative mechanism of action of ECT is the regulation of BDNF and/or related neurotrophins. In this case report a 54-year-old man with severe treatment-resistant schizophrenic symptoms was treated with ECT. In order to evaluate the effect of ECT on BDNF serum levels, we collected a blood sample before each ECT session. During the course of ECT treatment the paranoid and hallucinatory symptoms gradually improved while BDNF levels increased over time. In addition, there was a general improvement of its positive and negative schizophrenic symptoms and depressive state.In conclusion, this case report further validates the therapeutic efficacy of ECT in schizophrenic patients with inadequate or poor response to traditional treatments. Moreover, ECT therapeutic effect is associated with an increase in BDNF serum levels. Further studies are needed to characterize the relationship between BDNF and ECT in patients with schizophrenia symptoms.

scholarly journals Relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in children

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248023
Author(s):  
Carlos Berlanga-Macías ◽  
Mairena Sánchez-López ◽  
Montserrat Solera-Martínez ◽  
Ana Díez-Fernández ◽  
Inmaculada Ballesteros-Yáñez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Sexual Maturation ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Relationship

Objective A positive relationship between breastfeeding and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in infants has been suggested due to the presence of BDNF in human milk. This study aimed to determine the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and BDNF serum levels in Spanish schoolchildren. Methods A cross-sectional analysis including 202 schoolchildren, aged eight to 11 years, from Cuenca, Spain, was conducted. Information on sociodemographic and anthropometric variables, sexual maturation, birth weight and exclusive breastfeeding (‘no exclusive breastfeeding’, and exclusive breastfeeding for ≤6 and >6 months), and BDNF serum levels using an ELISA method were obtained. Covariance analyses (ANCOVA) were conducted to examine the relationship between serological BDNF and exclusive breastfeeding after controlling for potential confounders. Results ANCOVA models showed no significant differences in BDNF levels between children who were exclusively breastfed for more than six months versus those who were not (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed by age group (eight to nine years versus 10 to 11 years; p > 0.05). Additionally, no clear negative trend in BDNF serum levels according to sexual maturation categories was found (p > 0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest that exclusive breastfeeding does not have a significant positive association on BDNF from eight to 11 years, since children who were exclusively breastfed did not have significantly higher BDNF levels than those who were not exclusively breastfed. Likewise, BDNF levels were not found to be negatively affected by hormonal development. Future research should examine the influence of exclusive breastfeeding on BDNF over the different developmental stages.

scholarly journals Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Its Serum Levels in Schizophrenic Patients

Folia Medica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvetta A. Koeva ◽  
Stefan T. Sivkov ◽  
Valentin H. Akabaliev ◽  
Roumiana Y. Ivanova ◽  
Tania I. Deneva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Student’S T ◽  
Serum Bdnf

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Neurotrophins have an important role in regulating the development and maintenance of the peripheral and central nervous systems’ function. Thus, the neurotrophin hypothesis of schizophrenia has postulated that the changes in the brain of schizophrenic patients are the result of disturbances of developing processes involving these molecules. AIM: We analyse in the present study the changes in the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in schizophrenic patients as possible epiphenomena of underlying alterations of the neurotrophic factor in central nervous system, reflecting its role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one schizophrenic patients satisfying the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of schizophrenia were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 28 age-matched mentally healthy subjects. Serum BDNF levels were determined in patients and normal controls using ELISA (Chemicon International, USA & Canada). The data were analyzed statistically with Student’s t- test in SPSS 9.0. RESULTS: The serum BDNF levels were lower in the schizophrenic patients than in the control subjects, reaching statistically significant difference (t = 2.72, p = 0.009). Female patients had lower serum BDNF levels than the male patients but the difference fell short of statistical significance (t = 0.1, p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: The BDNF reduction in serum indicates a potential deficit in neurotrophic factor release in patients with schizophrenia and support the concept that BDNF might be associated with schizophrenia

scholarly journals Decreased serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in schizophrenic patients with deficit syndrome

2015 ◽  
pp. 865
Author(s):  
Yakup Albayrak ◽  
Nurkan Aksoy ◽  
Murat Kuloglu ◽  
Kenji Hashimoto ◽  
Esra Soydas Akyol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Deficit Syndrome ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with aggressive behavior in schizophrenia

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 311-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Spalletta ◽  
D.W. Morris ◽  
F. Angelucci ◽  
I.A. Rubino ◽  
I. Spoletini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Gene Variants ◽  
Bdnf Gene ◽  
Val66met Polymorphism ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Bdnf Val66met Polymorphism ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene variants may potentially influence behaviour. In order to test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and aggressive behaviour in a population of schizophrenic patients. Our results showed that increased number of BDNF Met alleles was associated with increased aggressive behaviour.

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