As people get older, they tend to have less BDNF in their hippocampus, which is linked to memory problems and brain shrinkage in that area.
Scientific Claim
Aging is associated with reduced BDNF expression in the hippocampus, which correlates with hippocampal shrinkage, spatial memory decline, and neuronal atrophy in both rodents and humans.
Source Excerpt
“In aged rodents, the BDNF system is affected at different levels, including reduced transcription, protein synthesis and processing, however, other publications could not find an association between age-related plastic changes and BDNF. The found reductions correlate with hippocampal shrinkage, spatial memory decline and neuronal atrophy. For example, higher BDNF mRNA induction levels were reported after Water Maze task on unimpaired rats in comparison with aged animals. The decrease in BDNF levels observed in aged individuals, was accompanied by a reduction in the expression and/or activation of TrkB receptor and a concomitant increase in the levels of proBDNF and p75NTR, suggesting the presence of additional age-related deficits in BDNF signaling pathway and in the processing of proBDNF to mature BDNF. Additionally, these changes were negatively correlated with performance on the Water Radial Maze.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting Studies
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor: A Key Molecule for Memory in the Healthy and the Pathological Brain
The study describes multiple studies showing correlations between reduced BDNF levels and age-related cognitive decline and structural changes in the brain. The language used is appropriately correlational, noting 'correlate with' and 'negatively correlated with'.