Levels of cortisol and neurotrophic factor brain-derived in Parkinson’s disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary cortisol and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in people with PD, to compare them with healthy controls and to associate them with levels of anxiety and depression. For this, 18 people with PD and 17 controls were recruited. The stage of the disease was determined by Hoehn and Yahr Disability Scale (H&Y), biomarkers levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and anxiety and depression levels were assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Assessment Scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). The results show that in the PD group the median age was 68 years, the diagnosis time was 4.5 years and according to H&Y, 61.2% were in stage 2. The median values of cortisol were 972.5 pg/ml and BDNF, 215.7 pg/ml. The median HAM-A was 17 points and in HAM-D, 10. The control group had a median age of 62 years, cortisol values of 425 pg/ml and BDNF, 340.1 pg/ml. In HAM-A and HAM-D, the median was 2 points. There were no significant differences between levels of BDNF, but higher levels of cortisol were demonstrated in PD. Moreover, anxiety and depression were associated with biomarkers levels. These findings may suggest an involvement of neuroendocrine changes in the pathophysiology of the PD.