Correlation between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin in older adults

Background Several previous studies have demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and oxytocin are associated with dementia, depression, and mental health. The aim of this study was to measure the serum BDNF and oxytocin levels of community-dwelling older adults and evaluate the relationship between the two biomarkers in the study cohort. Methods This survey was conducted between November 2016 and September 2017 in Kurokawa-cho, Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan, and the participants were community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years old. Their blood samples were collected for the measurement of their serum BDNF and oxytocin levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The relationship between serum BDNF and oxytocin levels was analyzed using correlation and multiple regression analyses. Results A total of 95 participants (25 men and 70 women; mean age: 78.24 ± 3.85 years and 77.96 ± 5.52 years, respectively) were analyzed. The results of the analyses indicated that serum BDNF level was positively associated with serum oxytocin level, even after adjusting for age, sex, and years of education. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that BDNF and oxytocin may interact in older adults and may be associated with maintaining good mental health among them.