Correlation Between Cognitive Function and Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neutrophic Factor In Schizophrenia

Mutiara Anissa, Resti Rahmadika Akbar, Rifkind Malik

Abstract


Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by significant cognitive impairments, including deficits in attention, processing speed, and executive function. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is known to play a key role in neuroplasticity and cognitive processes; however, its relationship with cognitive function in schizophrenia remains unclear. Objective: this research aims to determine correlation between serum BDNF levels and cognitive function  with Trail Making Test. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 schizophrenia patients. The population is schizophrenia patients at at Reksodiwiryo Padang Hospital Padang. The sampling method is a consecutive sampling.  The statistical test used is Spearman’s correlation. Results:   A significant proportion of participants demonstrated cognitive impairments (50% in Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A) and 60% in Trail Making Test-B), no statistically significant correlation was found between serum BDNF levels and TMT scores (TMT-A: r = -0.073, p = 0.612; TMT-B: r = -0.263, p = 0.065). Conclusion: This research concluded there was no statistically significant correlation between BDNF levels and TMT A and B. The findings suggest that serum BDNF may not directly correlate with cognitive impairments in schizophrenia, spesificly executive function and attention, as assessed by the TMT.


Keywords


BDNF, Cognitive deficit, Schizophrenia

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30742/jikw.v14i2.4191

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