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EEG Alpha Power as an Intermediate Measure Between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met and Depression Severity in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

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Check out this Knowledge Base article from StressTherapy Solutions: EEG Alpha Power as an Intermediate Measure Between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met and Depression Severity in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder.

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Study at a glance

Area
Depression & Mood
Study type
Observational study
Authors
Zoon HFA, Veth CPM, Arns M, Drinkenburg WHIM, Talloen W, Peeters PJ, Kenemans JL
Journal
Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology
Year
2013
Participants
107 patients with major depressive disorder (ages 18-65)
Population
Adults
Protocol
resting EEG (eyes open and closed) with BDNF genotyping

Key findings

  • Parietal-occipital alpha power in the eyes-open resting state was negatively associated with depression severity
  • Met/Met patients had lower global absolute alpha power with eyes closed than Val-carriers
  • Results fit an earlier finding that alpha power mediates between BDNF Met and subclinical low mood
  • Authors suggest the pathway may matter for personalized treatment of depression, pending further study

DOI 10.1097/wnp.0b013e3182933d6e → PubMed 23733090 →

A study of 107 patients with major depressive disorder that examined how a common variant of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, Val66Met, relates to resting EEG alpha power and to how severe their depression was. Lower parietal-occipital alpha with eyes open went with more severe depression, and patients with two Met copies had lower overall alpha with eyes closed. The authors see this as consistent with a proposed gene-to-alpha-to-mood pathway, but call it tentative and in need of further research.