BDNF Val66Met in preclinical Alzheimer's disease is associated with short-term changes in episodic memory and hippocampal volume but not serum mBDNF

Authors

Yen Ying Lim
Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Yoon Lim
Simon Laws, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Veer Gupta, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Tenielle Porter, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Pierrick Bourgeat
David Ames
Christopher Fowler
Olivier Salvado
Victor L. Villemagne
Christopher C. Rowe
Colin L. Masters
Xin Fu Zhou
Ralph Martins, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Paul Maruff

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

International Psychogeriatrics

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

24991

Comments

Lim, Y. Y., Rainey-Smith, S., Lim, Y., Laws, S. M., Gupta, V., Porter, T., ... Villemagne, V. L. (2017). BDNF Val66Met in preclinical Alzheimer's disease is associated with short-term changes in episodic memory and hippocampal volume but not serum mBDNF. International Psychogeriatrics, 29(11), 1825-1834. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217001284

Abstract

Background: The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism Met allele exacerbates amyloid (Aβ) related decline in episodic memory (EM) and hippocampal volume (HV) over 36–54 months in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the extent to which Aβ+ and BDNF Val66Met is related to circulating markers of BDNF (e.g. serum) is unknown. We aimed to determine the effect of Aβ and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on levels of serum mBDNF, EM, and HV at baseline and over 18-months.

Methods: Non-demented older adults (n = 446) underwent Aβ neuroimaging and BDNF Val66Met genotyping. EM and HV were assessed at baseline and 18 months later. Fasted blood samples were obtained from each participant at baseline and at 18-month follow-up. Aβ PET neuroimaging was used to classify participants as Aβ– or Aβ+.

Results: At baseline, Aβ+ adults showed worse EM impairment and lower serum mBDNF levels relative to Aβ- adults. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism did not affect serum mBDNF, EM, or HV at baseline. When considered over 18-months, compared to Aβ– Val homozygotes, Aβ+ Val homozygotes showed significant decline in EM and HV but not serum mBDNF. Similarly, compared to Aβ+ Val homozygotes, Aβ+ Met carriers showed significant decline in EM and HV over 18-months but showed no change in serum mBDNF.

Conclusion: While allelic variation in BDNF Val66Met may influence Aβ+ related neurodegeneration and memory loss over the short term, this is not related to serum mBDNF. Longer follow-up intervals may be required to further determine any relationships between serum mBDNF, EM, and HV in preclinical AD.

DOI

10.1017/S1041610217001284

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