Background
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in neurodevelopment
and plasticity; decreased BDNF functioning may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
However, BDNF levels are not static; in animal experiments, brain BDNF increases during
spatial learning, and in clinical depression, successful antidepressant treatment
raises serum BDNF. We asked: would neuroplasticity-based cognitive training in schizophrenia
result in increased serum BDNF?
Methods
Fifty-six schizophrenia outpatients and 16 matched healthy comparison subjects were
assessed on baseline cognitive performance and serum BDNF. Schizophrenia subjects
were randomly assigned to either 50 hours (10 weeks) of computerized auditory training
or a computer game control condition, followed by reassessment of cognition and serum
BDNF.
Results
At baseline, schizophrenia participants had significantly lower-than-normal serum
BDNF. Schizophrenia subjects who engaged in computerized cognitive training designed
to improve auditory processing showed significant cognitive gains and a significant
increase in serum BDNF compared with subjects who played computer games. This increase
was evident after 2 weeks of training, and after 10 weeks in the active condition,
subjects “normalized” their mean serum BDNF levels, whereas the control group showed
no change. In the active condition, change in BDNF was significantly associated with
improved quality of life.
Conclusions
Serum BDNF levels are significantly increased in clinically stable, chronically ill
schizophrenia subjects after neuroplasticity-based cognitive training, but not after
computer games. Serum BDNF levels may serve as a peripheral biomarker for the effects
of intensive cognitive training and may provide a useful tool for the evaluation of
cognitive enhancement methods in schizophrenia.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 16, 2009
Accepted:
February 22,
2009
Received in revised form:
January 30,
2009
Received:
November 4,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
