BDNF: val/met genotype

Question 1

is BDNF levels tested in order to diagnose depression?

Answer 1

no. it is diagnosed based on symptoms

Question 2

why is it important for scientists to know about BDNF in a patient?

Answer 2

so they can figure out the best way to increase these levels when treating patients with depression

Question 3

a common polymorphism in the gene that codes for BDNF produces alleles called:

Answer 3

“Val” and “Met”

Question 4

people with the Met allele have been found to have what?

Answer 4

small hippocampus at birth, hippocampal hyper activation during learning and poor hippocampus - dependent memory function

Question 5

according to neurobiological theory, MDD is caused by:

Answer 5

a deficiency or dysregulation in the CNS concentrations of neurotransmitters

Question 6

what are the noradrenergic and serotonergic systems?

Answer 6

originate deep in the brain and fan out over almost the entire brain and modulate many areas of feeling, thinking and behaving, are implicated in depression

Question 7

the polymorphism “val/met” affects what?

Answer 7

intracellular transport and secretion of BDNF

Question 8

why is the hippocampus significant to depression?

Answer 8

modulates the cognitive aspects of depression such as memory impairments and feelings of hopelessness, guilt, doom and suicidality

Question 9

Met allele has a short allele of serotonin transporter, psychosocial stress and increases vulnerability to depression. T or F

Answer 9

true

Question 10

low levels of BDNF in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of symptomatic depressed patients and serum levels of BDNF are abnormally low in patients w MDD. T or F

Answer 10

true