Thanks to this discovery, doctors may have an objective diagnostic tool for various affective disorders.
Scientists from South Australia have developed and confirmed the effectiveness of the world’s first test measuring the level of protein in the brain associated with depression and bipolar disorder.
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The method is based on the BDNF protein, a brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein that plays an important role in stimulating neurons. For example, decreased BDNF levels have been associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and mood disorders.
It is reported that the accuracy of the method was 80-83%. Researchers tested it on patients with a wide range of disorders, from depression to bipolar disorder and suicide attempts. The results showed that low mBDNF levels are indeed correlated with clinical depression and bipolar disorder, while symptoms of severe depression are associated with even lower levels of this protein.
It is curious that the number of mBDNF in the suicide group did not differ from the level of the control group. This means that the etiology of suicidal tendencies is more diverse than it is believed. Longer studies are needed to determine the relationship between suicidal behavior and mBDNF levels.
The authors of the study believe that, in combination with clinical examination, a certain mBDNF value in the blood can become an effective diagnostic tool.
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“Mood disorders affect millions of people worldwide. However, about one third of people with depression and bipolar disorder are resistant to antidepressants or alternative therapies. The reasons are not understood but it could have something to do with the imbalances between the different forms of BDNF, which we hope to investigate next,” summed up Zhou Xinfu, one of the researchers.