Background
A frequent polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (val66met) has been suggested to modulate hippocampal neuronal plasticity and has been associated
with individual variations in emotional reactivity traits and episodic memory.
Methods
The hippocampal formation was outlined in high-resolution anatomical magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) data in a sample of 36 healthy volunteers and compared between individuals
as a function of the presence of the met-BDNF allele. Both whole-brain volume corrected
and uncorrected data were tested for effects of genotype, sex, and age.
Results
The met-BDNF allele was associated with an 11% reduction in the volume of the hippocampal
formation.
Conclusions
In spite of a relatively small sample size, the presence of the met-BDNF allele was
found associated with a reduced volume of the hippocampal formation in healthy volunteers
and may represent a vulnerability factor for the development of disease processes
associated with the dysfunction of this brain region.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 30, 2006
Accepted:
September 30,
2005
Received in revised form:
August 22,
2005
Received:
February 2,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
