Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
10:53
Real-time Imaging of Axonal Transport of Quantum Dot-labeled BDNF in Primary Neurons
Published on: September 15, 2014
15.7K
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and bipolar disorder.
Yu-Jie Chiou1, Tiao-Lai Huang1
1Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Psychiatry Research
|March 11, 2019
Summary
Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are lower in bipolar I disorder (BD) patients compared to healthy individuals. BDNF shows moderate accuracy in distinguishing BD patients, offering potential as a biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bipolar I disorder (BD) is a significant mental health condition.
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in BD psychopathology.
- Limited research exists on BDNF's accuracy in differentiating BD patients from healthy controls (HCs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum BDNF levels in BD patients versus HCs.
- To assess the accuracy of BDNF levels in distinguishing BD patients from HCs.
- To explore correlations between BDNF levels and mania severity.
Main Methods:
- A twelve-year study comparing serum BDNF levels in 83 BD patients and 222 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched HCs.
- Pearson's correlation test for BDNF and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) scores in 61 manic patients.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine diagnostic accuracy.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower serum BDNF levels were found in BD patients (5.7 ± 4.2 ng/ml) compared to HCs (12.2 ± 7.5 ng/ml).
- A moderate accuracy (AUC = 0.801) was observed for BDNF levels in differentiating BD patients from HCs.
- Positive correlation found between YMRS scores and BDNF levels in manic patients (γ = 0.339).
- Optimal cut-off point for BDNF was 6.74 ng/ml, with 82.0% sensitivity and 63.9% specificity.
Conclusions:
- Serum BDNF levels demonstrate moderate accuracy in distinguishing individuals with bipolar I disorder from healthy controls.
- BDNF may serve as a potential biomarker for bipolar I disorder.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to validate these findings.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bipolar Disorder
700
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
700
01:22Bipolar Junction Transistor
1.5K
Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) are essential elements in electronic circuits, playing a crucial role in the functionality of amplifiers, memories, and microprocessors. These transistors can be designed as NPN or PNP based on their doping patterns. They consist of three layers: the emitter, base, and collector. The configuration of these layers and their respective doping levels—with N-type or P-type impurities—define the transistor's type and its operational...
1.5K
02:18Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
19.4K
Intrinsically disordered proteins are a group of proteins that do not fold into specific three-dimensional structures. Their structural flexibility allows them to complement ordered proteins to perform functions that are inaccessible to rigid structures. They are more common in eukaryotes than prokaryotes and may either be exclusively intrinsically disordered or hybrid proteins, consisting of a mix of ordered and disordered regions. The absence of a rigid structure in these proteins can be...
19.4K
02:16Transcription Factors
82.7K
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
82.7K
01:30Other Disorders of Digestive System
1.5K
The gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to various disorders. If the lower esophageal sphincter is damaged, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the lining. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (known as heartburn) and may cause chest pain and difficulty swallowing. In the stomach, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, chronic alcohol consumption, bacterial infections such as Helicobacter...
1.5K
01:27Disorders of Erythrocytes
2.2K
Disorders of erythrocytes, or red blood cells (RBCs), include a range of conditions affecting their number, shape, or function.
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
2.2K