Key takeaways:
~Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that promotes nerve function and growth.
~It also works in the neurons of the brain both in forming neurons and in long-term memory formation.
~Low BDNF is linked to depression and cognitive dysfunction.
Members will see their genotype report below, plus additional solutions in the Lifehacks section. Join today.
What is BDNF?
BDNF stands for a brain-derived neurotrophic factor. It is a type of protein called a neurotrophin. BDNF works in several ways:
- BDNF encourages new neuronal growth from stem cells
- it protects neurons from injury and cell death
- it improves neuronal function (important in learning and mood)
In addition to promoting nerve function, BDNF also is involved in neurotransmitters. It works with the response to dopamine[ref] and in serotonin transport.[ref]
As a protein that is essential for neuronal growth, BDNF is vital for neural plasticity and recovery after brain injury.[ref]
Essentially, BDNF is important for good cognition and nervous system function. You want plenty of BDNF to help your neurotransmitters function well.
Can genetic variants cause lower BDNF levels?
Genetic variants can decrease the amount of BDNF that your body normally makes. These variants have been tied to a number of brain and nervous system-related issues.
For example, introversion and an increased risk of depression have been tied in with BDNF variants. Obesity risk is also increased for certain variants.
While genetics plays a role in your baseline BDNF production, lifestyle factors such as food, exercise, and sleep also play a big role in BDNF. Fortunately, there are ways to increase BDNF and mitigate the problems associated with the BDNF gene variants. (Lifehacks section below)
Studies on BDNF levels show:
- Chronic stress causes a decrease in BDNF.[ref]
- Low BDNF is linked to Alzheimer’s disease[ref] and Parkinson’s[ref][ref]
- People with depression usually have lower levels of BDNF.[ref][ref][ref]
- Mothers with pregnancy or postpartum depression have low BDNF[ref]
- Older people with depression also have low BDNF.[ref]
- Low BDNF is linked to obesity.[ref]
Genetic changes in BDNF levels are linked to being more of an introvert versus being more socially outgoing. Additionally, some BDNF genetic variants are linked to neurocognitive changes such as schizophrenia, ADHD, and impulsivity.
BDNF Genotype Report
Members: Log in to see your data below.
Not a member? Join here.
Why is this section is now only for members? Here’s why…
Lifehacks
Even if you are genetically predisposed to lower or altered BDNF levels, you can still affect BDNF levels significantly. Carrying the variants above just makes optimizing BDNF production that much more important.
How to increase BDNF levels naturally:
Related Articles and Genes:
References:
Banerjee, Ritabrata, et al. “Chronic Administration of Bacopa Monniera Increases BDNF Protein and MRNA Expressions: A Study in Chronic Unpredictable Stress Induced Animal Model of Depression.” Psychiatry Investigation, vol. 11, no. 3, July 2014, pp. 297–306. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2014.11.3.297.
Bîlc, Mirela I., et al. “Childhood Trauma and Emotion Regulation: The Moderator Role of BDNF Val66Met.” Neuroscience Letters, vol. 685, Oct. 2018, pp. 7–11. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2018.07.018.
Chen, Zhe-Yu, et al. “Variant Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) (Met66) Alters the Intracellular Trafficking and Activity-Dependent Secretion of Wild-Type BDNF in Neurosecretory Cells and Cortical Neurons.” Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 24, no. 18, May 2004, pp. 4401–11. www.jneurosci.org, https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0348-04.2004.
Cho, Soo-Churl, et al. “Gender-Specific Association of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” Psychiatry Investigation, vol. 7, no. 4, Dec. 2010, pp. 285–90. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2010.7.4.285.
Chui, D. H., et al. “A Double-Blind, Rct Testing Beneficial Modulation of BDNF in Middle-Aged, Life Style-Stressed Subjects: A Clue to Brain Protection?” Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR, vol. 8, no. 11, Nov. 2014, pp. MC01-06. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/10301.5141.
Dinoff, Adam, et al. “The Effect of Acute Exercise on Blood Concentrations of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Healthy Adults: A Meta-Analysis.” The European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 46, no. 1, July 2017, pp. 1635–46. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13603.
—. “The Effect of Acute Exercise on Blood Concentrations of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Healthy Adults: A Meta-Analysis.” The European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 46, no. 1, July 2017, pp. 1635–46. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13603.
Domschke, Katharina, et al. “Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ( BDNF) Gene: No Major Impact on Antidepressant Treatment Response.” The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 13, no. 1, Feb. 2010, pp. 93–101. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1461145709000030.
Duman, Ronald S., and Lisa M. Monteggia. “A Neurotrophic Model for Stress-Related Mood Disorders.” Biological Psychiatry, vol. 59, no. 12, June 2006, pp. 1116–27. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.02.013.
Dwivedi, Yogesh. “Involvement of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Late-Life Depression.” The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry : Official Journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, vol. 21, no. 5, May 2013, pp. 433–49. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2012.10.026.
Fonken, Laura K., and Randy J. Nelson. “Dim Light at Night Increases Depressive-like Responses in Male C3H/HeNHsd Mice.” Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 243, Apr. 2013, pp. 74–78. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2012.12.046.
Guillin, O., et al. “BDNF Controls Dopamine D3 Receptor Expression and Triggers Behavioural Sensitization.” Nature, vol. 411, no. 6833, May 2001, pp. 86–89. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1038/35075076.
Guo, Jun-Cheng, et al. “Correlations of Four Genetic Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.” Psychiatry Investigation, vol. 15, no. 4, Apr. 2018, pp. 407–12. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2017.06.17.1.
—. “Correlations of Four Genetic Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.” Psychiatry Investigation, vol. 15, no. 4, Apr. 2018, pp. 407–12. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2017.06.17.1.
Hock, C., et al. “Region-Specific Neurotrophin Imbalances in Alzheimer Disease: Decreased Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Increased Levels of Nerve Growth Factor in Hippocampus and Cortical Areas.” Archives of Neurology, vol. 57, no. 6, June 2000, pp. 846–51. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.57.6.846.
Karege, Félicien, et al. “Low Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels in Serum of Depressed Patients Probably Results from Lowered Platelet BDNF Release Unrelated to Platelet Reactivity.” Biological Psychiatry, vol. 57, no. 9, May 2005, pp. 1068–72. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.008.
Li, I.-Chen, et al. “Neurohealth Properties of Hericium Erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Erinacines.” Behavioural Neurology, vol. 2018, May 2018, p. 5802634. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5802634.
Liu, Dexiang, et al. “Effects of Curcumin on Learning and Memory Deficits, BDNF, and ERK Protein Expression in Rats Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Stress.” Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 271, Sept. 2014, pp. 116–21. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2014.05.068.
Ma, Xian-Yong, et al. “Association between BDNF Rs6265 and Obesity in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study.” Journal of Obesity, vol. 2012, Dec. 2012, p. e102942. www.hindawi.com, https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/102942.
Mandelman, Samuel D., and Elena L. Grigorenko. “BDNF Val66Met and Cognition: All, None, or Some? A Meta-Analysis of the Genetic Association.” Genes, Brain, and Behavior, vol. 11, no. 2, Mar. 2012, pp. 127–36. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-183X.2011.00738.x.
Mandolini, G. M., et al. “Association between Serum BDNF Levels and Maternal Perinatal Depression: A Review: Special Section on ‘Translational and Neuroscience Studies in Affective Disorders’ Section Editor, Maria Nobile MD, PhD.” Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 261, Jan. 2020, pp. 271–76. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.007.
McAllister, Thomas W., et al. “Polymorphisms in the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Influence Memory and Processing Speed One Month after Brain Injury.” Journal of Neurotrauma, vol. 29, no. 6, Apr. 2012, pp. 1111–18. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2011.1930.
Miranda, Magdalena, et al. “Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor: A Key Molecule for Memory in the Healthy and the Pathological Brain.” Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, vol. 13, Aug. 2019, p. 363. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2019.00363.
Molendijk, Marc L., et al. “Serum BDNF Concentrations Show Strong Seasonal Variation and Correlations with the Amount of Ambient Sunlight.” PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 11, Nov. 2012, p. e48046. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0048046.
Mössner, R., et al. “Serotonin Transporter Function Is Modulated by Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) but Not Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).” Neurochemistry International, vol. 36, no. 3, Mar. 2000, pp. 197–202. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-0186(99)00122-9.
Oades, Robert D., et al. “The Influence of Serotonin- and Other Genes on Impulsive Behavioral Aggression and Cognitive Impulsivity in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Findings from a Family-Based Association Test (FBAT) Analysis.” Behavioral and Brain Functions : BBF, vol. 4, Oct. 2008, p. 48. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-4-48.
Ozan, Erol, et al. “The Effect of Depression, BDNF Gene Val66met Polymorphism and Gender on Serum BDNF Levels.” Brain Research Bulletin, vol. 81, no. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 61–65. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2009.06.022.
Sandrini, Leonardo, et al. “Association between Obesity and Circulating Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels: Systematic Review of Literature and Meta-Analysis.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 19, no. 8, Aug. 2018, p. 2281. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19082281.
Venezia, A. C., et al. “A Single Bout of Exercise Increases Hippocampal Bdnf: Influence of Chronic Exercise and Noradrenaline.” Genes, Brain, and Behavior, vol. 16, no. 8, Nov. 2017, pp. 800–11. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12394.
Viikki, Merja L., et al. “BDNF Polymorphism Rs11030101 Is Associated with the Efficacy of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression.” Psychiatric Genetics, vol. 23, no. 3, June 2013, pp. 134–36. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1097/YPG.0b013e328360c894.
Voineskos, Aristotle N., et al. “The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism and Prediction of Neural Risk for Alzheimer Disease.” Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 68, no. 2, Feb. 2011, pp. 198–206. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.194.
—. “The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism and Prediction of Neural Risk for Alzheimer Disease.” Archives of General Psychiatry, vol. 68, no. 2, Feb. 2011, pp. 198–206. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.194.
Wang, Yu, Hong Liu, Xiang-Dong Du, et al. “Association of Low Serum BDNF with Depression in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease.” Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, vol. 41, Aug. 2017, pp. 73–78. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2017.05.012.
Wang, Yu, Hong Liu, Ben-Shu Zhang, et al. “Low BDNF Is Associated with Cognitive Impairments in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease.” Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, vol. 29, Aug. 2016, pp. 66–71. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.05.023.
Watanabe, Yuichiro, et al. “Association of the BDNF C270T Polymorphism with Schizophrenia: Updated Meta-Analysis.” Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, vol. 67, no. 2, Feb. 2013, pp. 123–25. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12018.
—. “Association of the BDNF C270T Polymorphism with Schizophrenia: Updated Meta-Analysis.” Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, vol. 67, no. 2, Feb. 2013, pp. 123–25. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12018.
Xu, Lianping, et al. “The Analysis of Two BDNF Polymorphisms G196A/C270T in Chinese Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, vol. 9, May 2017, p. 135. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00135.
—. “The Analysis of Two BDNF Polymorphisms G196A/C270T in Chinese Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, vol. 9, May 2017, p. 135. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00135.
Youssef, Mariam M., et al. “Association of BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism and Brain BDNF Levels with Major Depression and Suicide.” International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 21, no. 6, Feb. 2018, pp. 528–38. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyy008.
Zaki, Nevin F. W., et al. “The Association of BDNF Gene Polymorphism with Cognitive Impairment in Insomnia Patients.” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, vol. 88, Jan. 2019, pp. 253–64. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.07.025.
Zeilinger, S., et al. “The Effect of BDNF Gene Variants on Asthma in German Children.” Allergy, vol. 64, no. 12, Dec. 2009, pp. 1790–94. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02131.x.