Neurobiology

BDNF and Sleep (recent project)

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of a family of growth factor’s located in the brain and peripheral tissues and plays an essential role in the neuronal cell differentiation, growth and survival. In the last decade, BDNF has become increasingly accepted as a central mediator of the effects of stress on neuronal plasticity. In a recent pilot study, our research group was the first to show, that patients suffering from insomnia showed significantly decreased serum BDNF levels compared to sleep-healthy controls. In the proposed project, we aim at assessing, whether BDNF may serve as a biological marker for insomnia on a larger scale in independent samples: a) primary insomnia, b) sleep apnoe, c) sleep-healthy controls. If we can substantiate the role of BDNF as a marker of insomnia in a larger group of patients and across different diagnostic entities, this has important implications for our understanding of the pathophysiology of insomnia. Once validated as a reliable marker of insomnia in independent samples and across different diagnostic groups, BDNF may serve as a research and diagnostic tool for a dimensional approach to insomnia that better reflects the underlying neurobiological mechanisms than mere categorical diagnostic attributions.