Protective role of BDNF in Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology and its correlation with new biomarkers: Can the role of BDNF be re-discussed?

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not fully understood and that new biomarkers for the condition should be presented. OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to determine the blood levels of some biochemical molecules and peptide proteins in AD, which is accepted as the most common cause of dementia in the world, and to elucidate the relationship between them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study consisted of 2 groups: 40 newly diagnosed AD patients and 40 healthy individuals. Plasma levels between the 2 groups and the correlation between them were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The median brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in the AD group was found to be higher and statistically significant compared to the control group (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: According to our literature review, this is the first article in which these molecules have been studied together in AD patients. In this study, we revealed the importance of these parameters and especially the instrumental role of BDNF in the form and function of the brain in AD patients. Interestingly, in the patient group, all parameters in our study showed a positive and significant positive relationship with one another (p < 0.001).

Restless legs syndrome after acute ischemic stroke and its relation to lesion location.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical profiles and lesion location of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) developed after ischemic stroke. Methods: This study prospectively included 244 patients with acute cerebral infarction. All patients were evaluated for RLS, and those who met all of the essential diagnostic criteria of the International RLS Study Group were diagnosed with RLS. The evaluation of lesion location was performed by magnetic resonance imaging. International Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale was performed 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the index stroke to determine the symptom severity of the patients and to observe the exacerbation or regression in follow-up. Results: A total of 14 patients (5.7%) had post-stroke RLS (psRLS). The psRLS group consisted mostly of males (9 males, 5 females). Among the patients with psRLS, 12 had a subcortical stroke (9.2%, 130 patients) whereas only 2 had a cortical stroke (1.8%, 114 patients) (p = 0.01). The subcortical lesion locations in the psRLS group were the pons, basal ganglia and/or corona radiata, thalamus, and cerebellum in order of decreasing frequency. Five patients had symptoms in both legs, and 9 patients had symptoms in unilateral legs (7 contralateral, 2 ipsilateral to the lesion). At follow-up, the symptoms of 6 patients resolved completely without medication, 5 patients responded well to pramipexole and 1 patient responded poorly. Only 2 patients who refused to take medication had worsened symptoms. Conclusion: The subcortical ischemic lesions are associated with psRLS. Pons, basal ganglia and corona radiata are the structures more likely to cause RLS.