Original Article

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and prefrontal white matter integrity in late-onset depression and normal aging

  1. R. B. Dalby1,2,*,
  2. B. Elfving1,
  3. P. H. P. Poulsen1,
  4. L. Foldager1,3,
  5. J. Frandsen4,
  6. P. Videbech1,
  7. R. Rosenberg1

Article first published online: 27 JAN 2013

DOI: 10.1111/acps.12085

Additional Information

How to Cite

Dalby RB, Elfving B,Poulsen PHP,Foldager L, Frandsen J, Videbech P, Rosenberg R Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and prefrontal white matter integrity in late-onset depression and normal aging

Author Information

  1. 1

    Centre for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark

  2. 2

    MINDLab, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

  3. 3

    Bioinformatics Research Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

  4. 4

    Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

* Dr. Rikke B. Dalby, Centre for Psychiatric Research, Skovagervej 2, DK-8240 Risskov, Denmark.
E-mail: rbdalby@dadlnet.dk

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 27 JAN 2013
  2. Manuscript Accepted: 20 DEC 2012

Funded by

  • MINDLab
  • Jacob and Olga Madsen Fund
  • Poul M. Færgeman Grant
  • K. Rasmussen Legacy Grant
  • Eilif and Ane Trier-Hansen Grant
  • Fund for Research in Mental Disorders
  • Psychiatric Research Fund of 1967
  • Einar and Ellen Geert-Jørgensen Research Grant
  • Danish Psychiatric Society Travel and Education Fund
  • Danish Medical Research Council
  • Research Fund for the Support of Psychiatric Research in the Central Denmark Region
  • Eli Lilly Psychiatric Research Foundation
  • A.P. Møller Foundation for the Advancement of Medical Science
  • Eli and Egon Larsen Fund
  • Max and Inger Wørzner Legacy Grant
  • AstraZeneca Travel Grant for Danish Psychiatrists
  • Helga and Peter Korning Fund

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Keywords:

  • BDNF ;
  • VEGF ;
  • depression;
  • diffusion tensor imaging;
  • white matter lesions

Objective

To explore the relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cerebral deep white matter lesions (DWMLs), and measures of white matter integrity in patients with late-onset depression, with respect to vascular risk factors.

Method

We examined 22 patients with late-onset depression and 22 matched controls. Quantification of plasma BDNF and VEGF levels were performed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Measures of white matter integrity comprised apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA), obtained by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Effects of DWMLs, FA, ADC, and vascular risk factors on BDNF and VEGF were assessed using multiple linear regression.

Results

The BDNF and VEGF levels did not differ significantly between groups. With pooled data for patients and controls, the BDNF level was positively associated with both number (t = 2.14, P = 0.039) and volume (t = 2.04, P = 0.048) of prefrontal DWMLs and negatively associated with FA in prefrontal normal-appearing white matter (t = −2.40, P = 0.02), adjusted for age and gender. Smoking and hypercholesterolemia was positively associated with the BDNF (t = 2.36, P = 0.023) and VEGF levels (t = 2.28, P = 0.028), respectively.

Conclusion

Our results suggest a role for BDNF in the complex pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying DWMLs in both normal aging and late-onset depression.

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