Association between BDNF rs6265 polymorphisms and postoperative cognitive dysfunction in Chinese Han Population.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a significant concern in elderly surgical patients.
• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in the pathogenesis of POCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between BDNF rs6265 polymorphisms and the occurrence of POCD.
• To determine if specific BDNF genotypes confer a risk or protective effect for POCD.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 124 elderly patients undergoing surgery and 25 healthy controls.
• POCD assessment using a neuropsychological test battery at preoperative, 7-day, and 3-month postoperative time points.
• Genotyping of the BDNF rs6265 polymorphism via polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Main Results:

• Among 99 patients, POCD was diagnosed in 29.3% at 7 days and 18.2% at 3 months post-surgery.
• Carriers of the G allele at rs6265 showed a reduced risk of POCD at 7 days (OR=0.67, p=0.017).
• The risk of early POCD (7 days) was significantly lower in additive (OR=0.41, p=0.015) and dominant (OR=0.35, p=0.042) models.

Conclusions:

• BDNF rs6265 polymorphisms are potentially associated with early POCD occurrence.
• The A>G mutation at the BDNF rs6265 locus may act as a protective factor for early POCD in the Chinese Han population.