BDNF

Understanding Entity Pages

This page aggregates everything SciDEX knows about BDNF: its mechanistic relationships (Knowledge Graph edges), hypotheses targeting it, analyses mentioning it, and supporting scientific papers. The interactive graph below shows its immediate neighbors. All content is AI-synthesized from peer-reviewed literature.

Summary

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is the most abundant neurotrophin in the brain, essential for neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation. BDNF signals through TrkB receptor to activate PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, and PLCgamma pathways, promoting long-term potentiation (LTP) and dendritic growth. BDNF levels decline in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and major depression. The Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) impairs activity-dependent BDNF secretion and is associated with reduced hippocampal volume and episodic memory deficits. Exercise robustly increases BDNF levels, providing a mechanistic link between physical activity and cognitive resilience. Therapeutic strategies include BDNF mimetics, TrkB agonists, and lifestyle interventions to boost endogenous BDNF.

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graph TD
    subgraph Signaling["Signaling"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"activates"| TRKB["TRKB"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"activates"| Als["Als"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"activates"| Aging["Aging"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"activates"| Stroke["Stroke"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -.->|"inhibits"| Als_1["Als"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"activates"| Depression["Depression"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"activates"| Synaptic_Plasticity["Synaptic Plasticity"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"activates"| Neurogenesis["Neurogenesis"]
        CREB["CREB"] -->|"activates"| BDNF["BDNF"]
        TRKB_3["TRKB"] -->|"activates"| BDNF["BDNF"]
        TNF["TNF"] -->|"activates"| BDNF["BDNF"]
        EXERCISE["EXERCISE"] -->|"activates"| BDNF["BDNF"]
        OXIDATIVE_STRESS["OXIDATIVE STRESS"] -->|"activates"| BDNF["BDNF"]
    end
    subgraph Pathology["Pathology"]
        BDNF["BDNF"] -->|"associated with"| Als_2["Als"]
        APP["APP"] -->|"associated with"| BDNF["BDNF"]
    end
    style BDNF fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:3px,color:#e0e0e0,font-weight:bold
    style TRKB fill:#006494,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Als fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Aging fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Stroke fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Als_1 fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Depression fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Synaptic_Plasticity fill:#1b5e20,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Neurogenesis fill:#1b5e20,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style Als_2 fill:#ef5350,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style CREB fill:#006494,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style TRKB_3 fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style TNF fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style EXERCISE fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style APP fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0
    style OXIDATIVE_STRESS fill:#4a1a6b,stroke:#4fc3f7,stroke-width:1px,color:#e0e0e0