BDNF is a protein in the brain that helps with learning and memory, especially in areas like the hippocampus which is important for remembering things.
Scientific Claim
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key molecule involved in synaptic plasticity and memory processes, with high expression levels in the hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex in both rodents and humans.
Source Excerpt
“Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a key molecule involved in plastic changes related to learning and memory. The expression of BDNF is highly regulated, and can lead to great variability in BDNF levels in healthy subjects. Changes in BDNF expression are associated with both normal and pathological aging and also psychiatric disease, in particular in structures important for memory processes such as the hippocampus and parahippocampal areas.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting Studies
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor: A Key Molecule for Memory in the Healthy and the Pathological Brain
The abstract and introduction explicitly describe BDNF's role in synaptic plasticity and memory, noting its high expression in memory-related brain regions. This is a foundational description of BDNF's biological role.