BACKGROUND/AIM Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with the hippocampus and the nigrostriatal dopaminergic function. Data showing that its level was reduced in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) suggested that the BDNF function must play an important role in the pathogenetics of these diseases. Indeed, variation in the BDNF gene may confer susceptibility to...

It has been suggested that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism modulates episodic memory performance via effects on hippocampal neural circuitry. However, fMRI studies have yielded inconsistent results in this respect. Moreover, very few studies have examined the effect of met allele load on activation of memory circuitry. In the present study, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of the effects ...

BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence for genetic effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis system. More than one gene is likely to moderate corticoid-mediated activity. AIMS To investigate whether the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism (rs6265, Val66Met) is associated with morning waking salivary cortisol and moderates the corticoid-mediated risk for subsequent depressi...

Recent studies have indicated that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is involved in the etiology of bipolar disorder (BPD). Two family-based association studies showed that the Val allele of the functional polymorphism Val66Met in the BDNF gene is associated with BPD; however, others could not confirm the results. Here we performed a replication study in an independent sample an...

OBJECTIVE Genetic imaging is used to investigate the mechanism by which genetic variants influence brain structure. In a previous study, a structural change of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was associated with symptom modulation in post-traumatic stress disorder patients. This study examined the effect of a polymorphism in the gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on regio...

Background Numerous studies have reported associations between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and psychiatric disorders, including suicidal behavior, although with conflicting results. Methods A total of 250 major depressive disorder patients were collected in the context of a European multicenter resistant depression study and treated with antidepressants at adequate doses...

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a painless and safe brain stimulation technique that has been found to be effective in treating depression symptoms. The potential usefulness of rTMS, in particular to treat drug resistant patients, might be increased by identifying genetic predictors of efficacy. According to this rationale, we investigated the role of two functional polym...

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder, is characterized by inattention and hyperactivity. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophic factor family, is important for normal neuronal development. It has been proposed that BDNF may play a role in the therapeutic action and pathogenesis of ADHD (Tsai, 2003). A...

OBJECTIVE Both clinical and biological factors influence the course of depressive disorders. This study tested for associations between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene at the Val66Met locus and the course of major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS Three hundred ten Korean subjects (209 patients, 101 controls) were genotyped for rs6265 at nucleotide 196 (G/A), which produces...

Reduced expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, which results in deficient activity-dependent secretion of BDNF, is associated with clinical features of schizophrenia. We investigated the effect of this polymorphism on Prepulse Inhibition (PPI), a translational model of sensorimotor gatin...