Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, is a signaling protein in the neurotrophin family that supports the development, maintenance, and plasticity of neurons. It is produced in the brain and in some peripheral tissues and acts mainly through the TrkB receptor, with additional biology involving the precursor form of BDNF and other receptors .¹

BDNF influences neuronal survival, dendritic and axonal growth, synapse formation, and activity-dependent changes in synaptic strength. These functions make it important for learning, memory, and the ability of neural circuits to adapt. BDNF production and release are regulated by neuronal activity, and signaling can differ by brain region, cell type, developmental stage, and whether mature BDNF or its precursor is involved .^1,2

BDNF should not be interpreted as a direct readout of overall brain health. Blood concentrations are sometimes measured in research, but peripheral levels do not provide a simple one-to-one measure of BDNF activity inside a particular brain region. It is a broadly acting neurotrophic factor whose effects depend on where, when, and in what form it is produced and released .^1,2