A range of research suggests that an increase in the circulating levels of BDNF is beneficial to the function of the brain (and likely muscle tissue as well). This is one of the ways in which alterations to the diet and gut microbiome composition can affect the brain, as microbial production of butyrate via fermentation of dietary fiber acts to increase BDNF expression. The research community has an interest in finding other ways to increase BDNF levels more directly, and that is a work in progress. Meanwhile, researchers continue to produce evidence to support that goal, such as the data noted here.
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in supporting neuronal survival, promoting neurogenesis, and enhancing synaptic plasticity, all of which are vital for cognitive health. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between BDNF levels and cognitive impairment in the elderly population. This was a cross-sectional study involving older adults at a social service care. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Indonesian Version (MoCA-INA). BDNF levels were measured in peripheral blood samples using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.
Of the 88 participants with a median age of 69.5 years, 71 (80.7%) had cognitive impairment. The median MoCA-INA score was 15.0. The most affected cognitive domain was abstraction, absolute number of patients 87 patients (98.9%). The mean BDNF level was 1.55 (±0.62) ng/mL with 50 (56.8%) patients having normal level. A weak positive correlation was found between BDNF level and performance in the visuospatial-executive (r = 0.232) and abstraction domains (r = 0.249). BDNF levels were significantly lower in those with cognitive impairment compared to those with normal cognitive function.
In conclusion, we observed a correlation between BDNF levels and cognitive function, particularly in the visuospatial-executive and abstraction domains, highlighting the potential role of BDNF in cognitive decline in aging.
Link: https://doi.org/10.17392/1929-22-02
View the full article at FightAging
