Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as predictor of early-onset poststroke depression

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Neurology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Poststroke depression (PSD) affects one-third of stroke survivors, increasing morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding the biological underpinnings of PSD is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and early-onset PSD.
• To explore the relationship between BDNF and other clinical variables in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• Serum BDNF levels were measured within 72 hours of stroke diagnosis in 88 patients.
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17), and NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were administered on day 14.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess BDNF's predictive capability for PSD.

Main Results:

• Patients with early-onset PSD exhibited significantly lower serum BDNF and MoCA scores, and higher NIHSS scores.
• A significant negative correlation was observed between BDNF levels and HAMD-17 scores.
• A BDNF cut-off value of 361.5 showed 75% sensitivity and 56% specificity for predicting early-onset PSD.

Conclusions:

• Lower serum BDNF levels are associated with early-onset PSD in acute ischemic stroke patients.
• Serum BDNF may act as a potential biomarker for early PSD prediction.
• The cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions, necessitating further research.