Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, but can be released by platelets, confounding its measurement.
Objective: We aimed to compare BDNF concentrations following different processing strategies.
Methods: We analyzed BDNF in 99 older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Processing EDTA plasma normally (PRP) resulted in different values than removing platelets (PPP).
Results: Cognitively impaired participants had lower BDNF compared to controls in PPP, while PRP BDNF showed no differences. A positive relationship was evident between PPP BDNF and AD biomarkers measured in PRP.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that circulating BDNF may be a compensatory mechanism in impaired participants and underscore the importance of blood pre-processing strategies.
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