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Cited by 82Nerve injury and regenerationRegulation of Appetite and ObesityTryptophan and brain disorders

Plasma BDNF levels vary in relation to body weight in females

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Pillai, Anilkumar, Bruno, Davide, Sarreal, Antero S., Hernando, Raymundo T., Saint-Louis, Leslie A., Nierenberg, Jay, Ginsberg, Stephen D., Pomara, Nunzio +4 more·2012·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0039358PMC PMC3388065
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Abstract

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression as well as neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies show a role of BDNF in energy metabolism and body weight regulation. We examined BDNF levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from age matched elderly depressed and control subjects. Also, the association of BDNF levels with age, gender, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and cognitive performance was evaluated. We did not find any significant differences in plasma and CSF BDNF levels between depressed and control subjects. Plasma BDNF levels were negatively correlated with age (but not with BMI and body weight), when analyses were performed including both depressed and control subjects. A significant reduction in plasma BDNF levels was observed in females as compared to male subjects, and the change in BDNF levels were significantly and positively related to body weight in females. Furthermore, significant increases in Total Recall and Delayed Recall values were found in females as compared to males. In conclusion, the lower BDNF levels observed in females suggest that changes in peripheral BDNF levels are likely secondary to an altered energy balance. However, further studies using larger sample size are warranted.

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Authors
Pillai, A., Bruno, D., Sarreal, A. S., Hernando, R. T., Saint-Louis, L. A., Nierenberg, J., Ginsberg, S. D., Pomara, N., Mehta, P. D., Zetterberg, H., Blennow, K., & Buckley, P. F.
Affiliations
  • Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (US)
  • Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
Corresponding author
Pillai, Anilkumar
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2012-07-02
Volume
7
Issue
7
Pages
e39358
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0039358
PMC
PMC3388065
OpenAlex
W2112975564
Cited by
82
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
1.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Liverpool John Moores University (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Liverpool Hope University
  • National Institute on Aging (P01AG014449, R01AG043375, P01AG017617)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P50MH086385, F31MH080505, R01 MH-, R01 MH-080505)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
brain-derived neurotrophic factor, plasma BDNF, depression, body weight, body mass index, sex differences, aging, energy metabolism, cognitive performance, memory retrieval, older women
MeSH terms
Aged, Body Weight, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Characteristics, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

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