TY - JOUR
T1 - Preliminary Associations between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Memory Impairment, Functional Cognition, and Depressive Symptoms Following Severe TBI
AU - Failla, Michelle D.
AU - Juengst, Shannon B.
AU - Arenth, Patricia M.
AU - Wagner, Amy K.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by NIH R01 HD048162; NIDRR H133A120087; DODW81XWH-071-0701; CDC R49 CCR 323155, University of Pittsburgh Women's Studies Faculty Research Fund
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2015.
PY - 2016/6
Y1 - 2016/6
N2 - Background. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to mood and cognitive complications, affecting functional recovery. Understanding neurobiological alterations common in post-TBI depression (PTD) and cognition may identify novel biomarkers for TBI complications. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a likely target based on evidence of reduced BDNF signaling in experimental TBI and depression models and its role in learning and memory. Objective. To evaluate BDNF as a biomarker for PTD, cognitive impairment, and functional cognition in a prospective cohort with severe TBI. Methods. Participants with TBI (n = 113) were evaluated for PTD (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), cognitive impairment (cognitive composite score), and functional cognition (Functional Independence Measure-Cognition, FIM-Cog). BDNF levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid and serum at 0 to 6 days postinjury and in serum at 6 and 12 months postinjury. Results. Serum BDNF was reduced after TBI versus controls at all time points. Acute serum BDNF positively correlated with memory composites (6 months: r = 0.43, P =.019, n = 30; 12 months: r = 0.53, P =.005, n = 26) and FIM-Memory scores (6 months: r = 0.35, P =.019, n = 45; 12 months: r = 0.38, P =.018, n = 38). Acute serum BDNF negatively correlated with 12-month PHQ-9 scores (r = '0.38; P =.044; n = 29). At 12 months, chronic serum BDNF tended to be lower in participants with PTD (P =.07) and correlated with PHQ-9 scores (r = '0.41; P =.019; n = 32). Conclusions. Acute BDNF associations with memory recovery may implicate hippocampal damage/degeneration. Comparatively, BDNF associations with PTD status were not as strong as associations with PTD severity. Further investigation may delineate longitudinal BDNF patterns, and BDNF responsive treatments, reflecting mood and cognitive recovery following TBI.
AB - Background. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to mood and cognitive complications, affecting functional recovery. Understanding neurobiological alterations common in post-TBI depression (PTD) and cognition may identify novel biomarkers for TBI complications. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a likely target based on evidence of reduced BDNF signaling in experimental TBI and depression models and its role in learning and memory. Objective. To evaluate BDNF as a biomarker for PTD, cognitive impairment, and functional cognition in a prospective cohort with severe TBI. Methods. Participants with TBI (n = 113) were evaluated for PTD (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]), cognitive impairment (cognitive composite score), and functional cognition (Functional Independence Measure-Cognition, FIM-Cog). BDNF levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid and serum at 0 to 6 days postinjury and in serum at 6 and 12 months postinjury. Results. Serum BDNF was reduced after TBI versus controls at all time points. Acute serum BDNF positively correlated with memory composites (6 months: r = 0.43, P =.019, n = 30; 12 months: r = 0.53, P =.005, n = 26) and FIM-Memory scores (6 months: r = 0.35, P =.019, n = 45; 12 months: r = 0.38, P =.018, n = 38). Acute serum BDNF negatively correlated with 12-month PHQ-9 scores (r = '0.38; P =.044; n = 29). At 12 months, chronic serum BDNF tended to be lower in participants with PTD (P =.07) and correlated with PHQ-9 scores (r = '0.41; P =.019; n = 32). Conclusions. Acute BDNF associations with memory recovery may implicate hippocampal damage/degeneration. Comparatively, BDNF associations with PTD status were not as strong as associations with PTD severity. Further investigation may delineate longitudinal BDNF patterns, and BDNF responsive treatments, reflecting mood and cognitive recovery following TBI.
KW - BDNF
KW - biomarker
KW - cognitive impairment
KW - depression
KW - rehabilomics
KW - traumatic brain injury
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U2 - 10.1177/1545968315600525
DO - 10.1177/1545968315600525
M3 - Article
C2 - 26276123
AN - SCOPUS:84965079511
SN - 1545-9683
VL - 30
SP - 419
EP - 430
JO - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
JF - Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
IS - 5
ER -