Cognitive function, serum BDNF levels and BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism in amnestic mild cognitive impairment / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the relationship between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, concentrations and BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and neuropsychological characteristics.@*METHODS@#Ninety-nine aMCI patients and 99 matched normal controls were recruited for the study. Multi-dimension neuropsychologic tests were used to extensively assess the cognitive function, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to measure serum BDNF concentrations, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to analyse BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism in the subjects.@*RESULTS@#The scores of neuropsychologic tests in aMCI patients were significantly lower than those in the normal controls (all P0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#aMCI is characterized by episodic memory impairment. Decreased BDNF concentrations may play a role in the pathophysiology of aMCI, and BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism may not be an important genetic factor in susceptibility to aMCI.