BDNF genotype is associated with hippocampal volume in mild traumatic brain injury

The negative long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have been a growing concern in recent years, with accumulating evidence suggesting that mTBI combined with additional vulnerability factors may induce neurodegenerative-type changes in the brain. However, the factors instantiating risk for neurodegenerative disease following mTBI are unknown. This study examined the link between mTBI and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype, which has previously been shown to regulate processes involved in neurodegeneration including synaptic plasticity and facilitation of neural survival through its expression. Specifically, we examined nine BDNF single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs908867, rs11030094, rs6265, rs10501087, rs1157659, rs1491850, rs11030107, rs7127507 and rs12273363) previously associated with brain atrophy or memory deficits in mTBI. Participants were 165 white, non-Hispanic Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans between the ages of 19 and 58, 110 of whom had at least one mTBI in their lifetime. Results showed that the BDNF SNP rs1157659 interacted with mTBI to predict hippocampal volume. Furthermore, exploratory analysis of functional resting state data showed that rs1157659 minor allele homozygotes with a history of mTBI had reduced functional connectivity in the default mode network compared to major allele homozygotes and heterozygotes. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) was not a significant predictor of hippocampal volume or functional connectivity. These results suggest that rs1157659 minor allele homozygotes may be at greater risk for neurodegeneration after exposure to mTBI and provide further evidence for a potential role for BDNF in regulating neural processes following mTBI.