Relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and immune function during dietary supplement treatment of elderly with Alzheimer's dementia

Background and Aim: The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationships among pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and mature BDNF and immune functioning during aloe polymannose multinutrient complex (APMC) treatment in persons with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). Materials and Methods: An open-label trial of 12 months was used to execute the study. Thirty-four adults with AD were enrolled and consumed four teaspoons/day of APMC for 12 months. Subjects were assessed at baseline and 12 months follow-up for proBDNF and BDNF and cytokines, growth factors, T-cell and B-cell subsets, and complete blood count to measure immune functioning. All biomarkers were intercorrelated. Results: Several relationships were identified between proBDNF, BDNF, and BDNF/proBDNF ratio and immune function at 12 months, particularly BDNF with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (r=0.55, P=0.03), epidermal growth factor (EGF) (r=0.74, P=0.001), and CD95+CD3+ (%) (r=−0.64, P=0.03) and proBDNF with VEGF (r=0.64, P=0.02), EGF (r=0.86, P