Higher BDNF plasma levels are associated with a normalization of memory dysfunctions during an antidepressant treatment.

Higher BDNF plasma levels are associated with a normalization of memory dysfunctions during an antidepressant treatment. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2019 Mar 30;: Authors: Engelmann J, Wagner S, Wollschläger D, Kaaden S, Schlicht KF, Dreimüller N, Braus DF, Müller MB, Tüscher O, Frieling H, Tadić A, Lieb K Abstract One important symptom of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is memory dysfunction. However, little is known about the relationship between memory performance and depression severity, about the course of memory performance during antidepressant treatment as well as about the relationship between memory performance and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Memory function [learning and delayed recall) was assessed in 173 MDD patients (mean age 39.7 ± 11.3 years] treated by a pre-defined treatment algorithm within the early medication change (EMC) study at baseline, days 28 and 56. Depression severity was assessed in weekly intervals, BDNF plasma levels were measured at baseline, days 14 and 56, BDNF exon IV and p11 methylation status at baseline. Linear mixed regression models revealed that the course of depression severity was not associated with the course of learning or delayed recall in the total group. 63 (36%) of the investigated patients showed memory deficits (percent range ≤ 16) at baseline. Of those, 26(41%) patients experienced a normalization of their memory deficits during tr...
Source: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Source Type: research