Human brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the development of a child’s brain: Foreign literature review

The review reports the results of English language studies on the role of the neurotrophin BDNF in brain development and functioning. BDNF and its major receptor TrkB have the most abundant expression in the developing and adult mammalian brain. Neurotrophins regulate the survival and differentiation of neurons. They perform different functions at different stages of ontogenesis. In some cases, they provide protection for neurons, in others, they contribute to synaptic pruning and apoptosis. Lower levels of BDNF indicate a failure of the neuroprotective mechanism, while its higher levels may indicate a manifested protective reaction. Evidence is available that the level of BDNF in the blood serum can be a biomarker of various diseases. The review discusses the possibilities to use BDNF level assessment for early detection of such developmental disorders as autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease. The obtained results are contradictory. This can be explained by the heterogeneity of samples by age, gender, and the degree of clinical manifestations of developmental disorders as well as different approaches to blood processing. The article also analyses the results of studies focusing on possible ways to modulate the level of BDNF in the nervous system through the use of drugs and physical activity. A number of articles have shown that certain long-term and short-term physical activity facilitates the expression of BDNF. Further studies on the role of BDNF in developmental disorders in children will encourage the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approache.