A high level of stress diminishes the influence of BDNF in our brains. Its influence is low in people who are experiencing a chronic state of stress, depression, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, autism or schizophrenia. Until now, in treating depression, physicians had to assess the condition of the patient solely on the basis of their subjective sensations. There is no mechanism to determine the patient’s condition and detect the disease, similar to that which exists in the case of diseases such as diabetes mellitus or arterial pressure.

A group of Japanese researchers, headed by Professor Shigeto Yamawaki, managed to discover the gene responsible for BDNF protein synthesis – neurotrophic factor synthesized by the brain.

BDNF is very active in the region of the hippocampus, a region that plays an important role in the capacity of the patient to memorize. It also has a particular significance in terms of movement disorders, schizophrenia, inhibition, mood disorders, attention and learning.

A high level of stress diminishes the influence of BDNF in our brains. Its influence is low in people experiencing a chronic state of stress, depression, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, autism or schizophrenia.

Studies show that BDFN level manipulation can cause learning impairment and may lead to depression, but once the BDFN level is adjusted, these conditions disappear. This discovery has many advantages for treating psychiatric disorders.

There is a correlation between depression and diabetes. Wang J. supports the hypothesis that BDNF, a protein of the neurotrophin class, strongly expressed in central and peripheral nervous system, would be the common etiological part of the association of depression-diabetes. BDNF is associated with improving insulin sensitivity, regulating glucose metabolism, reducing food intake, modulating insulin secretion, leptin, ghrelin, certain neurotransmitters, inflammatory neuropeptides and cytokines. BDNF would thus play a role in the etiopathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. Low levels of BDNF are associated with glucose metabolism dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients and insulin resistance (1), but also with obesity. Low values ​​of serum and plasma BDNF are also correlated to the pathogenesis of depression (2,3)). One possible explanation is that BDNF plays a role in the growth and proliferation of serotoninergic neurons and in hippocampal neurogenesis. The brain is the source of 70% of the circulating BDNF. Major sources of plasma BDNF are the cortex and the hippocampus. Stress is associated with a decrease in hippocampal volume, and the mechanism of stress response is a factor involved in the etiopathogenesis of depression and diabetes. It has been suggested that stress leads to lower BDNF in the brain. There are studies that show that antidepressants increase BDNF values ​​in depressed patients and that BDNF serum values ​​correlate with the hippocampal volume (4, 5 and 6).

The good news is that there are a number of solutions that can increase the level of BDFN in our brains:

• Intense physical activity for 20-30 minutes;
• Intermittent fast or caloric restriction;
• Restriction of diet with lipid and carbohydrate predominance;
• Sun exposure (vitamin D);
• Dietary supplements such as Curcumin, Omega -3;
• Substances of the type: SSRI, nootropics, cystamine, ampakine;
• Social affiliation, frequent socialization.

In combination with BDNF, it is recommended to determine the serum level of:

• Vitamin D – whose receptors increase nerve development in the brain. The low level of vitamin D is associated with poor brain function;
• Vitamin B12 – deficiency leads to mental fog or memory problems.