Review
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World J Psychiatr. Dec 22, 2013; 3(4): 93-102
Published online Dec 22, 2013. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v3.i4.93
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a potential biomarker of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia
Rafael Penadés, Rosa Catalán, Irene López-Vílchez, Bárbara Arias, Alexandre González-Rodríguez, Ana M Galán, Cristóbal Gastó
Rafael Penadés, Rosa Catalán, Alexandre González-Rodríguez, Cristóbal Gastó, Psychiatry and Psychology, Clinical Institute of Neurosciences (ICN), Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Rafael Penadés, Rosa Catalán, Cristóbal Gastó, Department of Psychiatry and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Rafael Penadés, Rosa Catalán, Irene López-Vílchez, Ana M Galán, Cristóbal Gastó, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Rafael Penadés, Rosa Catalán, Bárbara Arias, Cristóbal Gastó, Centro Investigación en Red Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Irene López-Vílchez, Ana M Galán, Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, Centre for Biomedical Diagnosis, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Bárbara Arias, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology and Biomedicine Institute, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Author contributions: All authors equally contributed to write the draft and to revise it critically for the intellectual content; all authors gave their approval of the final version.
Supported by The grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of FIS (PI 11/01958); and the Intramural Grant from CIBERSAM to Penadés R
Correspondence to: Dr. Rafael Penadés, PhD, Psychiatry and Psychology, Clinical Institute of Neurosciences (ICN), Hospital Clínic, C/ Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. rpenades@clinic.ub.es
Telephone: +34-93-2275400 Fax: +34-93-4035294
Received: June 28, 2013
Revised: October 6, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: December 22, 2013
Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a biomarker of schizophrenia and, more specifically, as a biomarker of cognitive recovery. Evidence collected in this review indicates that BDNF is relevant in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and could play a role as a marker of clinical response. BDNF has been shown to play a positive role as a marker in antipsychotic treatment, and it has been demonstrated that typical antipsychotics decrease BDNF levels while atypical antipsychotics maintain or increase serum BDNF levels. Furthermore, BDNF levels have been associated with severe cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia. Consequently, BDNF has been proposed as a candidate target of strategies to aid the cognitive recovery process. There is some evidence suggesting that BDNF could be mediating neurobiological processes underlying cognitive recovery. Thus, serum BDNF levels seem to be involved in some synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission processes. Additionally, serum BDNF levels significantly increased in schizophrenia subjects after neuroplasticity-based cognitive training. If positive replications of those findings are published in the future then serum BDNF levels could be definitely postulated as a peripheral biomarker for the effects of intensive cognitive training or any sort of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia. All in all, the current consideration of BDNF as a biomarker of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia is promising but still premature.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Cognition, Biomarkers

Core tip: The lack of diagnostic and treatment markers is one of the most important problems in clinical practice. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a biomarker of schizophrenia and, more specifically, as a biomarker of cognitive recovery. Evidence collected in this review indicates that there is evidence suggesting that serum BDNF levels are involved in some synaptic plasticity processes. Additionally, serum BDNF levels significantly increased in schizophrenia subjects after neuroplasticity-based cognitive training. All in all, the current consideration of BDNF as a biomarker of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia is promising but still premature.