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Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Ng TKS, Ho CSH, Tam WWS, Kua EH, Ho RC.. International journal of molecular sciences, 2019-01-10
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Findings from previous studies reporting the levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have been conflicting. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to examine the aggregate levels of serum BDNF in patients with AD and individuals with MCI, in comparison with healthy controls. Fifteen studies were included for the comparison between AD and healthy control (HC) ( n = 2067).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Ng, T. K. S., Ho, C. S. H., Tam, W. W. S., Kua, E. H., & Ho, R. C. (2019). Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International journal of molecular sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20020257
Vancouver
Ng TKS, Ho CSH, Tam WWS, Kua EH, Ho RC. Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International journal of molecular sciences. 2019. doi:10.3390/ijms20020257. PMID: 30634650.
BibTeX
@article{ng2019-30634650,
author = {Ng, T. K. S. and Ho, C. S. H. and Tam, W. W. S. and Kua, E. H. and Ho, R. C.},
title = {{Decreased Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis}},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.3390/ijms20020257},
pmid = {30634650},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20020257}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to examine the aggregate levels of serum BDNF in patients with AD and individuals with MCI, in comparison with healthy controls.
- Fifteen studies were included for the comparison between AD and healthy control (HC) ( n = 2067).
- Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in patients with AD (SMD: -0.282; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.535 to -0.028; significant heterogeneity: I² = 83.962).
- Meta-regression identified age ( p p n = 906) and between MCI and HC (nine studies, n = 5090).
Why it matters
This meta-analysis found that serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were significantly lower in patients with Alzheimer's disease than in healthy controls. It examines a possible marker in blood, not a treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Participants2,067
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 74/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for effect reported 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 | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,067 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 414 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 46.0 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 166 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Roger Ho: h-index 96 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | National University of Singapore: institution h-index 1,166 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30634650) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 74 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020257
- PubMed: 30634650
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Molecular Sciences →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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