Okpete UE, Byeon H. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor alterations and cognitive decline in schizophrenia: Implications for early intervention. World J Psychiatry 2025; 15(1): 102131 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i1.102131]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Haewon Byeon, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, 197 Injero, Gimhae 50834, South Korea. bhwpuma@naver.com
Research Domain of This Article
Psychiatry
Article-Type of This Article
Letter to the Editor
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Psychiatry. Jan 19, 2025; 15(1): 102131 Published online Jan 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i1.102131
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor alterations and cognitive decline in schizophrenia: Implications for early intervention
Uchenna E Okpete, Haewon Byeon
Uchenna E Okpete, Haewon Byeon, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, Gimhae 50834, South Korea
Author contributions: Okpete UE involved in data interpretation and developed methodology; Byeon H designed the study; Okpete UE and Byeon H contributed to this paper and assisted with writing the article; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Supported by Basic Science Research Program Through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Funded By the Ministry of Education, No. NRF-RS-2023-00237287.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Haewon Byeon, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Digital Anti-aging Healthcare (BK21), Inje University, 197 Injero, Gimhae 50834, South Korea. bhwpuma@naver.com
Received: October 9, 2024 Revised: November 12, 2024 Accepted: December 2, 2024 Published online: January 19, 2025 Processing time: 69 Days and 21 Hours
Abstract
This manuscript explores the recent study by Cui et al which assessed the interplay between inflammatory cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in first-episode schizophrenia patients. The study revealed that higher levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α correlated with reduced BDNF levels and poorer cognitive performance. Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder impacting approximately 1% of the global population, characterized by positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions), negative symptoms (diminished motivation and cognitive impairments) and disorganized thoughts and behaviors. Emerging research highlights the role of BDNF as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and therapeutic targeting. The findings from Cui et al’s study suggest that targeting neuroinflammation and enhancing BDNF levels may improve cognitive outcomes. Effective treatment approaches involve a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions tailored to individual patient needs. Hence, monitoring cognitive and neuroinflammatory markers is essential for improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Consequently, this manuscript highlights the need for an integrated approach to schizophrenia management, considering both clinical symptoms and underlying neurobiological changes.
Core Tip: The recent research by Cui et al highlights the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6, in cognitive impairment, as well as in early diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. Thus, we emphasize the importance of personalized treatment that integrates pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, combined with continuous monitoring of cognitive function and neuroinflammatory markers, to optimize patient outcomes and address both symptomatic and cognitive challenges effectively.
