Objectives: There are relatively few studies on mechanisms of cognitive deficits in late-life
schizophrenia (LLS).
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (
BDNF), as an important neuroplastic molecule, has been reported to be involved in neurocognitive impairment in
schizophrenia. This study aimed to examine whether peripheral
BDNF levels were associated with cognitive deficits in LLS, which has not been explored yet. Methods: Forty-eight LLS patients and 45 age-matched elderly controls were recruited. We measured all participants on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) for cognition and serum
BDNF levels. Psychopathological symptoms in patients were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: The levels of
BDNF in LLS patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (8.80 ± 2.30 vs. 12.63 ± 5.08 ng/ml, p < 0.001). The cognitive performance of LLS patients was worse than that of the controls on RBANS total score and scores of immediate memory, attention, language, and delayed memory (all p ≤ 0.005).
BDNF was positively associated with attention in LLS patients (r = 0.338, p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that older patients with
schizophrenia exhibit lower
BDNF levels and more cognitive deficits than older controls, supporting the accelerated aging hypothesis of
schizophrenia. Moreover, decreased
BDNF is related to attention deficits, indicating that
BDNF might be a candidate
biomarker of
cognitive impairments in LLS patients.