Evolution of BDNF serum levels during the first six months after alcohol withdrawal

Increased academic stress is associated with decreased plasma BDNF in Chilean college students

Introduction

Academic stress (AS) is a prevalent challenge faced by university students, potentially affecting molecular indicators such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and global DNA methylation (G-DNA-M). These indicators could illuminate the physiological ramifications of academic stress.

Study Design and Methods

This research followed a quantitative, non-experimental, longitudinal panel design spanning two academic semesters, observing phenomena in their natural context. Students from the Medical Technology program at Universidad de Concepción, Chile were involved, with assessments at the beginning and during heightened academic stress periods.

Sample

Of the total participants, 63.0% were females, with an average age of 21.14 years at baseline, and 36.92% were males, averaging 21.36 years. By the study's conclusion, female participants averaged 21.95 years, and males 22.13 years.

Results

Significant differences were observed between initial and final assessments for the SISCO-II Inventory of Academic Stress and Beck Depression Inventory-II, notably in stressor scores, and physical, and psychological reactions. Gender differences emerged in the final physical and psychological reactions. No significant changes were detected between the two assessments in plasma BDNF or G-DNA-M values. A refined predictive model showcased that, on average, there was a 3.56% decrease in females' plasma BDNF at the final assessment and a 17.14% decrease in males. In the sample, the G-DNA-M percentage at the final assessment increased by 15.06% from the baseline for females and 18.96% for males.

Conclusions

The study underscores the physiological impact of academic stress on university students, evidenced by changes in markers like BDNF and G-DNA-M. These findings offer an in-depth understanding of the intricate mechanisms regulating academic stress responses and highlight the need for interventions tailored to mitigate its physiological and psychological effects.

BDNF CpG methylation and serum levels covary during alcohol withdrawal in patients with alcohol use disorder: A pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels vary in various conditions including alcohol use disorder (AUD). We aimed to identify drivers of these variations.

METHODS

Twelve patients with AUD were assessed at hospitalisation for alcohol withdrawal and four months later. We looked for associations between the change in serum BDNF levels and (1) length of abstinence, (2) anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Scale) and depression (Beck-Depression Inventory), (3) one functional BDNF genotype (rs6265) and (4) methylation levels of 12 CpG sites within the BDNF gene (located in exons I, IV and IX).

RESULTS

While abstinence remained, serum BDNF level increased. This increase correlated with the variation of methylation levels of the BDNF gene, and more specifically of exon I. We found no significant effect of length of abstinence, rs6265, depression or anxiety on serum BDNF level.

CONCLUSIONS

Epigenetic regulation of the BDNF gene may be involved in variations of BDNF blood level associated with alcohol abstinence.

A Review of the Characteristics of Clinical Trials and Potential Medications for Alcohol Dependence: Data Analysis from ClinicalTrials.gov

Objective. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics of clinical trials related to alcohol dependence that are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. Methods. All ClinicalTrials.gov trials registered up to 1 January 2023 were examined, focusing on trials that involved alcohol dependence. All 1295 trials were summarized by presenting their characteristics and results and reviewed most intervention drugs used in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Results. The study analysis identified a total of 1295 clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov that were focused on alcohol dependence. Of these, 766 trials had been completed, representing 59.15% of the total, while 230 trials were currently recruiting participants, accounting for 17.76% of the total. None of the trials had yet been approved for marketing. The majority of the studies included in this analysis were interventional studies (1145 trials, or 88.41%), which accounted for most of the patients enrolled in the trials. In contrast, observational studies represented only a small portion of the trials (150 studies, or 11.58%) and involved a smaller number of patients. In terms of geographic distribution, the majority of registered studies were located in North America (876 studies, or 67.64%), while only a small number of studies were registered in South America (7 studies, or 0.54%). Conclusions. The purpose of this review is to provide a basis for the treatment of alcohol dependence and prevention of its onset through an overview of clinical trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. It also offers essential information for future research to guide future studies.

Aerobic exercise as a promising nonpharmacological therapy for the treatment of substance use disorders

Despite the prevalence and public health impact of substance use disorders (SUDs), effective long-term treatments remain elusive. Aerobic exercise is a promising, nonpharmacological treatment currently under investigation as a strategy for preventing drug relapse. Aerobic exercise could be incorporated into the comprehensive treatment regimens for people with substance abuse disorders. Preclinical studies of SUD with animal models have shown that aerobic exercise diminishes drug-seeking behavior, which leads to relapse, in both male and female rats. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the effects of substance abuse-induced cellular and physiological adaptations believed to be responsible for drug-seeking behavior. Accordingly, the overall goal of this review is to provide a summary and an assessment of findings to date, highlighting evidence of the molecular and neurological effects of exercise on adaptations associated with SUD.

BDNF levels and liver stiffness in subjects with alcohol use disorder: Evaluation after alcohol withdrawal

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in the processes of withdrawal and addiction in alcohol use disorder (AUD), and is also involved in liver homeostasis. The role of BDNF in liver damage and its link with liver stiffness are not known. We hypothesize that serum BDNF levels are linked to changes in hepatic elasticity, both of which depend on variations in alcohol consumption.Objectives: We aimed to study the evolution of BDNF levels and changes in the liver stiffness (LS) of AUD subjects, within two months following withdrawal.Methods: We measured LS by FibroScan® (as an indicator of the degree of liver fibrosis), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels (as a nonspecific but sensitive marker of liver status) and serum BDNF levels of 62 alcohol-dependent subjects without previously identified liver complications. Measures were obtained at the time of withdrawal (M0) and two months later (M2). Results: BDNF levels increased after alcohol withdrawal and small variations of LS were observed. BDNF values increased significantly according to fibrosis stages measured by LS (p = .028 at M0), and were predicted by GGT levels in a regression model (p = .007 at M0 and p = .003 at M2).Conclusion: In AUD, BDNF levels were associated with measured LS when divided into fibrosis risk categories. Changes in LS and BDNF levels after alcohol withdrawal may be related to changes in homeostatic mechanisms, in addition to those of liver status.