Higher brain BDNF gene expression is associated with slower cognitive decline in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We tested whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression levels are associated with cognitive decline in older adults.

Methods

Five hundred thirty-five older participants underwent annual cognitive assessments and brain autopsy at death. BDNF gene expression was measured in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Linear mixed models were used to examine whether BDNF expression was associated with cognitive decline adjusting for age, sex, and education. An interaction term was added to determine whether this association varied with clinical diagnosis proximate to death (no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia). Finally, we examined the extent to which the association of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology with cognitive decline va

SUBMITTER: Buchman AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4763800 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature