Synergistic Increase of Serum BDNF in Alzheimer Patients Treated with Cerebrolysin and Donepezil: Association with Cognitive Improvement in ApoE4 Cases.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Low circulating brain derived neurotrophic factor may promote cognitive deterioration, but the effects of neurotrophic and combination drug therapies on serum brain derived neurotrophic factor were not previously investigated in Alzheimer's disease.

METHODS:

We evaluated the effects of Cerebrolysin, donepezil, and the combined therapy on brain derived neurotrophic factor serum levels at week 16 (end of Cerebrolysin treatment) and week 28 (endpoint) in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease patients.

RESULTS:

Cerebrolysin, but not donepezil, increased serum brain derived neurotrophic factor at week 16, while the combination therapy enhanced it at both week 16 and study endpoint. Brain derived neurotrophic factor responses were significantly higher in the combination therapy group than in donepezil and Cerebrolysin groups at week 16 and week 28, respectively. Brain derived neurotrophic factor increases were greater in apolipoprotein E epsilon-4 allele carriers, and higher brain derived neurotrophic factor levels were associated with better cognitive improvements in apolipoprotein E epsilon-4 allele patients treated with Cerebrolysin and the combined therapy.

CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate a synergistic action of Cerebrolysin and donepezil to increase serum brain derived neurotrophic factor and delaying cognitive decline, particularly in Alzheimer's disease cases with apolipoprotein E epsilon-4 allele.

• Authors: X Anton Alvarez, Irene Alvarez, Olalla Iglesias, Ignacio Crespo, Jesus Figueroa, Manuel Aleixandre, Carlos Linares, Elias Granizo, Manuel Garcia-Fantini, Jose Marey, Eliezer Masliah, Stefan Winter, Dafin Muresanu, Herbert Moessler
• Journal: The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology (Int J Neuropsychopharmacol) Vol. 19 Issue 6 (06 2016) ISSN: 1469-5111 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27207906 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of CINP.