The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic-Factor (BDNF) Val66Met Polymorphism Is Associated With Geriatric Depression: A Meta-Analysis

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Yu Pei, Capital Medical University; Alicia K Smith, Emory University; Yongjun Wang, Capital Medical University; Yanli Pan, Capital Medical University; Jian Yang, Capital Medical University; Qi Chen, Capital Medical University; Weigang Pan, Capital Medical University; Feng Bao, Capital Medical University; Lisha Zhao, Capital Medical University; Changle Tie, Capital Medical University; Yizheng Wang, Capital Medical University; Jian Wang, Emory University; Wenfeng Zhen, Capital Medical University; Jinxia Zhou, University of New South Wales; Xin Ma, Capital Medical University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-07-01
• Publisher: Wiley: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.32062
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
• ISSN: 1552-4841
• Volume: 159B
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 560
• End Page: 566
• Grant/Funding Information: Grant sponsor: National Natural Science Foundation of China; Grant number: 81071102; Grant sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health; Grant number: MH085806.; This study was supported by the grants of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81071102 to X.M.) and the National Institute of Mental Health (MH085806 to A.K.S.).
• Keywords: HIPPOCAMPAL VOLUME; MAJOR DEPRESSION; MOOD DISORDERS; SCHIZOPHRENIA; Psychiatry; ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE; Science & Technology; FACTOR GENE; ACTIVITY-DEPENDENT SECRETION; BDNF; geriatric; EPISODIC MEMORY; LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION; meta-analysis; Val66Met; WHITE-MATTER HYPERINTENSITIES; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; depression; Genetics & Heredity
• Research Categories: Psychology, Behavioral; Biology, Neuroscience; Biology, Genetics

Abstract

Depression has been associated with reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. Genetic association studies of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) in geriatric depression have produced inconsistent results. A meta-analysis of studies was conducted to compare the frequency of the BDNF Val66Met variant between cases with geriatric depression and age-matched controls. A total of five studies involving 523 cases with geriatric depression and 1,220 psychiatrically healthy controls was included. Met allele carriers had an increased risk for geriatric depression when compared to Val/Val homozygotes (P=0.004, OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.13-1.93). Our findings suggest the BDNF Met allele may confer increased risk for depression as individual age.