Background: As a neurotoxic substance, alcohol can induce neurodegenesis in the brain. Alcohol-dependent patients' cognitive functioning can be affected by chronic alcohol use. In addition, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to reflect the status of neuroadaptive changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive functions and BDNF in alcohol-dependent patients. Methods: The subjects were 39 alcohol-dependent patients. BDNF was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. We examined clinical features and administered the Korean version of Alcohol Dependence Scale. We also used the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) to measure cognitive functioning. Then, we determined the relationships between BDNF and various parts of the CERAD. Results: The performance of alcohol-dependent patients proved stable in most parts of the CERAD. Within the different parts of the CERAD, only Trail Making Test B correlated with BDNF. Trail Making Test specifically assesses executive functions. Conclusions: BDNF might play an important role in the detection of neurocognitive function among individuals with alcohol dependence.
CITATION STYLE
Han, C., Bae, H., Won, S. D., Roh, S., & Kim, D. J. (2015). The relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive functions in alcohol-dependent patients: A preliminary study. Annals of General Psychiatry, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-015-0065-z
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