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Reduced serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adult male patients with autism |
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| Authors: | Hashimoto Kenji Iwata Yasuhide Nakamura Kazuhiko Tsujii Masatsugu Tsuchiya Kenji J Sekine Yoshimoto Suzuki Katsuaki Minabe Yoshio Takei Nori Iyo Masaomi Mori Norio |
| Institution: | aDivision of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba 260-8670, Japan bDepartment of Psychiatry and Neurology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan cFaculty of Sociology, Chukyo University, Toyota, Aichi, Japan dDepartment of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan |
| Abstract: | BACKGROUND: The precise mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of autism are currently unknown. Given the key role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain development, we hypothesized that BDNF may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. In this study, we studied whether serum levels of BDNF are altered in patients with autism. METHODS: We measured serum levels of BDNF in 18 adult male patients with autism and 18 age-matched healthy male control subjects. RESULTS: The serum levels of BDNF in patients with autism (25.6+/-2.15 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)) were significantly (z = -4.42, p < 0.001) lower than those of normal controls (61.6+/-10.9 ng/ml (mean+/-S.D.)). Nevertheless, we found no correlations between BDNF levels and clinical variables in autistic patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that reduced BDNF levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. |
| Keywords: | Autism Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Neurodevelopmental disorder Serum |
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