Association of Plasma Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels and Frailty in Community-dwelling Older Adults

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2022 Nov 4

PMID 36329115

Authors

Eun Roh

Soon Young Hwang

Eyun Song

Min Jeong Park

Hye Jin Yoo

Sei Hyun Baik

Miji Kim

Chang Won Won

Kyung Mook Choi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an exercise-induced neurotrophin, is an important factor in memory consolidation and cognitive function. This study evaluates the association between plasma BDNF levels and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Plasma BDNF levels were analyzed in a total of 302 individuals aged 70-84 years from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. There were 30 (9.9%) participants with frailty. They were older and had a higher prevalence of dementia and depression than those without frailty. There were no differences in the proportion of male sex between the frail and non-frail groups. Plasma BDNF levels were significantly lower in participants with frailty than in those without frailty. The presence of frailty was significantly associated with plasma BDNF levels (odds ratio 0.508, 95% confidence interval 0.304-0.849) as well as age, hemoglobin, and the presence of dementia, and depression. After adjustment for confounding factors, the significant association between plasma BDNF and frailty was maintained (0.495, 0.281-0.874). This association remained consistent after exclusion of individuals with dementia, depression, stroke, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Plasma BDNF levels were significantly associated with frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Our study may suggest the possible role of BDNF as a novel biomarker of frailty.

Citing Articles

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations are elevated in community-dwelling adults with sarcopenia.

Pratt J, Motanova E, Narici M, Boreham C, De Vito G Age Ageing. 2025; 54(2).

PMID: 39957555 PMC: 11831035. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afaf024.

Age, cancer, and the dual burden of cancer and doxorubicin in skeletal muscle wasting in female rats: which one to blame?.

Moreira-Pais A, Ferreira R, Aires I, Sousa-Mendes C, Nogueira-Ferreira R, Seixas F Biogerontology. 2025; 26(1):47.

PMID: 39853446 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-024-10182-y.

Markers of Mitochondrial Function and DNA Repair Associated with Physical Function in Centenarians.

Sanchez-Roman I, Ferrando B, Myrup Holst C, Mengel-From J, Hoei Rasmussen S, Thinggaard M Biomolecules. 2024; 14(8).

PMID: 39199297 PMC: 11353237. DOI: 10.3390/biom14080909.

Sarcopenia as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's Disease: Genetic and Epigenetic Perspectives.

Raleigh S, Orchard K Genes (Basel). 2024; 15(5).

PMID: 38790190 PMC: 11121242. DOI: 10.3390/genes15050561.

A potential research target for cardiac rehabilitation: brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Zou J, Hao S Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024; 11:1348645.

PMID: 38707889 PMC: 11069312. DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1348645.

References

Bae J, Cho M . Development of the Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale and its short form among elderly psychiatric patients. J Psychosom Res. 2004; 57(3):297-305. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.01.004. View

Walsh J, Tschakovsky M . Exercise and circulating BDNF: Mechanisms of release and implications for the design of exercise interventions. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018; 43(11):1095-1104. DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2018-0192. View

Rios M . BDNF and the central control of feeding: accidental bystander or essential player?. Trends Neurosci. 2013; 36(2):83-90. PMC: 3568936. DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2012.12.009. View

Demurtas J, Schoene D, Torbahn G, Marengoni A, Grande G, Zou L . Physical Activity and Exercise in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: An Umbrella Review of Intervention and Observational Studies. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2020; 21(10):1415-1422.e6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.08.031. View

Kane A, Sinclair D . Frailty biomarkers in humans and rodents: Current approaches and future advances. Mech Ageing Dev. 2019; 180:117-128. PMC: 6581034. DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2019.03.007. View

Nakano I, Kinugawa S, Hori H, Fukushima A, Yokota T, Takada S . Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels Are Associated with Skeletal Muscle Function but Not with Muscle Mass in Patients with Heart Failure. Int Heart J. 2020; 61(1):96-102. DOI: 10.1536/ihj.19-400. View

Won C, Lee S, Kim J, Chon D, Kim S, Kim C . Korean frailty and aging cohort study (KFACS): cohort profile. BMJ Open. 2020; 10(4):e035573. PMC: 7204935. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035573. View

Pan W, Banks W, Fasold M, Bluth J, Kastin A . Transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor across the blood-brain barrier. Neuropharmacology. 1999; 37(12):1553-61. DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(98)00141-5. View

Kernie S, Liebl D, Parada L . BDNF regulates eating behavior and locomotor activity in mice. EMBO J. 2000; 19(6):1290-300. PMC: 305670. DOI: 10.1093/emboj/19.6.1290. View

10.

Nakahashi T, Fujimura H, Altar C, Li J, Kambayashi J, Tandon N . Vascular endothelial cells synthesize and secrete brain-derived neurotrophic factor. FEBS Lett. 2000; 470(2):113-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(00)01302-8. View

11.

Wrann C, White J, Salogiannnis J, Laznik-Bogoslavski D, Wu J, Ma D . Exercise induces hippocampal BDNF through a PGC-1α/FNDC5 pathway. Cell Metab. 2013; 18(5):649-59. PMC: 3980968. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.09.008. View

12.

Miyazaki S, Iino N, Koda R, Narita I, Kaneko Y . Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is associated with sarcopenia and frailty in Japanese hemodialysis patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2020; 21(1):27-33. DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14089. View

13.

Nakagawa T, Tsuchida A, Itakura Y, Nonomura T, Ono M, Hirota F . Brain-derived neurotrophic factor regulates glucose metabolism by modulating energy balance in diabetic mice. Diabetes. 2000; 49(3):436-44. DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.49.3.436. View

14.

Huang E, Reichardt L . Neurotrophins: roles in neuronal development and function. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2001; 24:677-736. PMC: 2758233. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.neuro.24.1.677. View

15.

Matthews D, Hosker J, Rudenski A, Naylor B, Treacher D, Turner R . Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia. 1985; 28(7):412-9. DOI: 10.1007/BF00280883. View

16.

Jung I, Kwon H, Park S, Han K, Park Y, Rhee E . Changes in Patterns of Physical Activity and Risk of Heart Failure in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Patients. Diabetes Metab J. 2021; 46(2):327-336. PMC: 8987691. DOI: 10.4093/dmj.2021.0046. View

17.

Fujimura H, Altar C, Chen R, Nakamura T, Nakahashi T, Kambayashi J . Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is stored in human platelets and released by agonist stimulation. Thromb Haemost. 2002; 87(4):728-34. View

18.

Peng P, Kao T, Chang P, Chen W, Peng P, Wu L . Association between HOMA-IR and Frailty among U.S. Middle-aged and Elderly Population. Sci Rep. 2019; 9(1):4238. PMC: 6414687. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40902-1. View

19.

Nagahara A, Tuszynski M . Potential therapeutic uses of BDNF in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2011; 10(3):209-19. DOI: 10.1038/nrd3366. View

20.

Pikula A, Beiser A, Chen T, Preis S, Vorgias D, DeCarli C . Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor levels are associated with risk of stroke and vascular brain injury: Framingham Study. Stroke. 2013; 44(10):2768-75. PMC: 3873715. DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.001447. View