Low serum BDNF levels were strongly associated with the risk of post-stroke depression, though evidence for other types of cardiovascular disease remains limited.
Systematic Review (n=1,251)
Is low serum BDNF associated with the bidirectional risk of depression and cardiovascular disease?
Low serum BDNF levels may be associated with post-stroke depression, but further research is needed to establish its role as a biomarker for the bidirectional relationship between depression and other cardiovascular diseases.
BACKGROUND: Several studies have been conducted to prove the bidirectional relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression. These two major illnesses share several common risk factors such that the development of either condition may increase the risk of the occurrence of the other. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been suggested as a reliable biomarker for depression and a strong predictor of CVD because it plays an important role in neuron survival and growth, serves as a neurotransmitter modulator, and promotes neuronal plasticity. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the bidirectional relationship between CVD and depression, focusing on the potential role of low serum BDNF levels in the development of either disease in the presence of the other. METHODS: A systematic search strategy was developed using PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Six studies (comprising 1251 patients) were identified, all of which examined the association between CVD and depression. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that there may be a strong association between low serum BDNF levels and the risk of post-stroke depression. However, the studies on the role of altered serum BDNF levels and other types of CVD are few. Therefore, the inverse association between depression and CVD cannot be proven.
Fioranelli et al. (Tue,) conducted a systematic review in Depression and Cardiovascular Disease (n=1,251). Low serum BDNF levels was evaluated on Association between cardiovascular disease and depression. Low serum BDNF levels were strongly associated with the risk of post-stroke depression, though evidence for other types of cardiovascular disease remains limited.
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