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Associations between social relationship measures, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and risk of stroke and dementia.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION:Mechanisms underlying social determinants of stroke and dementia are unclear and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may contribute as a molecular link. METHODS:Using the Framingham Study, we examined social relationship measures as predictors of higher serum BDNF level and cumulative incidence of stroke and dementia. RESULTS:Among 3294 participants, controlling for age and sex, isolation trended with lower BDNF (odds ratio = 0.69 [0.47-1.00]). Participants with more companionship had reduced risk for stroke (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.59 [0.41-0.83]) and dementia (HR = 0.67 [0.49-0.92]). Greater emotional support was associated with higher BDNF (odds ratio = 1.27 [1.04-1.54]), reduced dementia risk (HR = 0.69 [0.51-0.94], and among smokers, reduced stroke risk (HR = 0.23 [0.10-0.57]). Associations persisted after additional adjustments. BDNF partly mediated the total effect between emotional support and dementia risk. CONCLUSIONS:Availability of social support appears to be associated with increased BDNF levels and, in certain subsets, reduce risk of subsequent dementia and stroke, thus warranting study of these pathways to understand their role in neuroprotection.

SUBMITTER: Salinas J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5651441 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Associations between social relationship measures, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and risk of stroke and dementia.

Salinas Joel J Beiser Alexa A Himali Jayandra J JJ Satizabal Claudia L CL Aparicio Hugo J HJ Weinstein Galit G Mateen Farrah J FJ Berkman Lisa F LF Rosand Jonathan J Seshadri Sudha S

Alzheimer's & dementia (New York, N. Y.) 20170322 2

<h4>Introduction</h4>Mechanisms underlying social determinants of stroke and dementia are unclear and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may contribute as a molecular link.<h4>Methods</h4>Using the Framingham Study, we examined social relationship measures as predictors of higher serum BDNF level and cumulative incidence of stroke and dementia.<h4>Results</h4>Among 3294 participants, controlling for age and sex, isolation trended with lower BDNF (odds ratio = 0.69 [0.47-1.00]). Participant ...[more]

PMID: 29067329

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Project description:IMPORTANCE:In animal studies, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to impact neuronal survival and function and improve synaptic plasticity and long-term memory. Circulating BDNF levels increase with physical activity and caloric restriction, thus BDNF may mediate some of the observed associations between lifestyle and the risk for dementia. Some prior studies showed lower circulating BDNF in persons with Alzheimer disease (AD) compared with control participants; however, it remains uncertain whether reduced levels precede dementia onset. OBJECTIVE:To examine whether higher serum BDNF levels in cognitively healthy adults protect against the future risk for dementia and AD and to identify potential modifiers of this association. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:Framingham Study original and offspring participants were followed up from 1992 and 1998, respectively, for up to 10 years. We used Cox models to relate BDNF levels to the risk for dementia and AD and adjusted for potential confounders. We also ran sensitivity analyses stratified by sex, age, and education, as well as related BDNF genetic variants to AD risk. This community-based, prospective cohort study involved 2131 dementia-free participants aged 60 years and older (mean [SD] age, 72 [7] years; 56% women). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:Ten-year incidence of dementia and AD. RESULTS:During follow-up, 140 participants developed dementia, 117 of whom had AD. Controlling for age and sex, each standard-deviation increment in BDNF was associated with a 33% lower risk for dementia and AD (P?=?.006 and P?=?.01, respectively) and these associations persisted after additional adjustments. Compared with the bottom quintile, BDNF levels in the top quintile were associated with less than half the risk for dementia and AD (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28-0.85; P?=?.01; and hazard ratio,?0.46; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86; P?=?.02, respectively). These associations were apparent only among women, persons aged 80 years and older, and those with college degrees (hazard ratios for AD: 0.65, [95% CI, 0.50-0.85], P?=?.001; 0.63 [95% CI, 0.47-0.85], P?=?.002; and 0.27 [95% CI, 0.11-0.65], P?=?.003, respectively). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic variants were not associated with AD risk. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:Higher serum BDNF levels may protect against future occurrence of dementia and AD. Our findings suggest a role for BDNF in the biology and possibly in the prevention of dementia and AD, especially in select subgroups of women and older and more highly educated persons.

Dataset Information

Associations between social relationship measures, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and risk of stroke and dementia.

Publications

Associations between social relationship measures, serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and risk of stroke and dementia.

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