from BDNF and depression

BDNF and Addiction

In recent years, it has become clear that growth factors are not only critical for the development of CNS but may also be important contributors to other neuronal functions in the adult brain. A decrease in the function of a BDNF and GDNF increases the behavioural effect of alcohol. Increases in GDNF and BDNF are reported to decrease alcohol intake, whereas decreases in BDNF are associated with increased alcohol intake. In addition, decreases in insulin signaling lead to increases in the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Hence, these  factors may be important CNS-defense against pharmacological effects of alcohol on behaviour.

BDNF and ADHD

There are many indirect connections between ADHD and neurotrophic factors like BDNF. Since exercise alters the BDNF levels it is easy to presume that the hyperactivity originating from a natural instinct  to balance the trial and error with compression of time – Anything but NOW! The medications against core symptoms like the inability too keep sustained attention often seems to raise the BDNF levels in low doses, but in high doses known to do the opposite.

How “The Lead motive” can alter the function of the prefrontal cortex is just one of the stressor effects that can result in states that have the characteristics of ADHD. Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function.

Deeper look into the hypothesis that BDNF is involved in the pathogenesis of ADHD.

BDNF and stress

As we now know to high amount of stress for to long can cause lover the levels of BDNF, and hence also come with an reasonable explanation stress especially early stress can change so much in life.

BDNF, Affective Disorders, anxiety and memory

Listen to Dr. Francis Lee who have combined mouse and human studies to shed light on the mechanisms by which a defect in a the BDNF gene can lead to anxiety symptoms in mental disorders.

More about BDNF

BDNF has been shown to enhance the survival and differentiation of several classes of neurons in vitro, including neural crest and placode-derived sensory neurons, dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, hippocampal neurons, and retinal ganglial cells.

BDNF Wikipedia

Science and Reason: BDNF, depression, memory, stress.

BDNF in Schizophrenia and depression

Understanding the etiology and pathogenesis schizophrenia and depression is a major challenge facing psychiatry. One hypothesis is that these disorders are secondary to a malfunction of neurotrophic factors. Inappropriate neurotrophic support during brain development could lead to structural disorganisation in which neuronal networks are established in a nonoptimal manner.

The future of BDNF

An upregulation of the BDNF feedback loop is what some Ampakines promise, almost like the change in GDNF feedback loop by ibogaine. The effects are very interesting when the actions of the substance is there when there is no substance there, that means that we have an true cognitive enchanter, not just a short term effector.