Associations between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive impairment in panic disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Panic disorder (PD) is a debilitating condition often associated with cognitive impairments.
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in neuronal plasticity and cognitive function.
• Genetic variations in BDNF, such as the Val66Met polymorphism, may influence susceptibility and clinical presentation of PD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between BDNF genotypes (rs6265, Val66Met), plasma BDNF levels, and cognitive function in Chinese patients with panic disorder.
• To explore the relationship between BDNF genetic variations and the severity of panic and anxiety symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 85 patients with PD and 91 healthy controls.
• Assessment of cognitive performance using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and other neurocognitive measures.
• Measurement of plasma BDNF levels and genotyping for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in BDNF allele or genotype frequencies between PD patients and controls.
• BDNF Met/Met genotype was associated with lower plasma BDNF levels and poorer performance in attention and processing speed domains in PD patients.
• Plasma BDNF levels positively correlated with Stroop interference, delayed memory, verbal learning, and overall MoCA scores in PD patients.

Conclusions:

• The BDNF Met/Met genotype may contribute to reduced BDNF levels and cognitive impairments in individuals with panic disorder.
• These findings highlight the potential role of BDNF genetics in the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits in PD.