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35/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 35 out of 100. Cognitive tests and assessment

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Plain-language summary

DNA methylation, mRNA and protein levels, and cognitive performance using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clock Drawing Test (CDT). Lower BDNF_IV1 methylation had predictive value for dementia. Patients with mild-to-moderate dementia had lower levels of BDNF_IV2 methylation, whereas patients with severe dementia had higher levels than the MCI group, while BDNF_IV2 methylation positively correlated with CDT scores. An insignificant decline in BDNF mRNA levels in dementia patients positively correlated with significantly lower BDNF plasma levels, especially pronounced in severe dementia patients. BDNF mRNA and protein levels were positively correlated with CDT and MMSE scores, respectively. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was associated with methylation of the BDNF_IX amplicon, but not with methylation in BDNF promoters I and IV, peripheral BDNF gene and protein expression, MMSE and CDT scores, or dementia. Methylation at the BDNF Val66Met site was positively correlated with overall BDNF_IX methylation and methylation at 5 BDNF_IX CpG loci but negatively correlated with methylation of BDNF_IV1, BDNF_IV3, and BDNF_I1 amplicons. Further studies should evaluate the translational potential of these peripheral BDNF-based biomarkers for dementia.

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APA 7th

Tudor, L., Paska, A. V., Konjevod, M., Balic, N., Perković, M. N., Uzun, S., et al. (2025). BDNF Val66Met Genotype, DNA Methylation, mRNA, and Protein Levels as Potential Blood-Based Biomarkers for Dementia and Cognitive Decline. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26188987

Vancouver

Tudor L, Paska AV, Konjevod M, Balic N, Perković MN, Uzun S, et al. BDNF Val66Met Genotype, DNA Methylation, mRNA, and Protein Levels as Potential Blood-Based Biomarkers for Dementia and Cognitive Decline. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025. doi:10.3390/ijms26188987. PMID: 41009553.

BibTeX

@article{tudor2025-41009553,
  author  = {Tudor, Lucija and Paska, Alja Videtič and Konjevod, Marcela and Balic, Nikola and Perković, Matea Nikolac and Uzun, Suzana and Vuić, Barbara and Milos, Tina and others},
  title   = {{BDNF Val66Met Genotype, DNA Methylation, mRNA, and Protein Levels as Potential Blood-Based Biomarkers for Dementia and Cognitive Decline}},
  journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.3390/ijms26188987},
  pmid    = {41009553},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26188987}
}

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What the evidence grade means here

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Key findings

An insignificant decline in BDNF mRNA levels in dementia patients positively correlated with significantly lower BDNF plasma levels, especially pronounced in severe dementia patients.
BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was associated with methylation of the BDNF_IX amplicon, but not with methylation in BDNF promoters I and IV, peripheral BDNF gene and protein expression, MMSE and CDT scores, or dementia.
Methylation at the BDNF Val66Met site was positively correlated with overall BDNF_IX methylation and methylation at 5 BDNF_IX CpG loci but negatively correlated with methylation of BDNF_IV1, BDNF_IV3, and BDNF_I1 amplicons.

Why it matters

This study examined BDNF methylation, mRNA and protein levels in blood and found some links to dementia severity and cognitive test scores. The authors say further studies are needed to evaluate whether these blood markers have practical use, and no treatment was tested.

Study details

Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 35/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Molecular Sciences)
Journal's citation record	3 / 4	International Journal of Molecular Sciences: journal h-index 426 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	4 / 5	2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	0 / 3	Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Randomized / blinded	0 / 2	No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	1 / 7	Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	0 / 5	0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	1 / 6	Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	0 / 4	Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	2 / 4	Last-listed author Dubravka Švob Štrac: h-index 28 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	0 / 3	University of Ljubljana: institution h-index 544 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41009553)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	35 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

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