Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder
Abstract The aim of this study was to advance post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) understanding in older adults (48–77 years) by determining if circulating cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL17A and TNFα), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (V...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91840-0 |
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| author | Bonnie L. Quigley Nathan Wellington Jacob M. Levenstein Megan Dutton Ana P. Bouças Grace Forsyth Cyrana C. Gallay Maryam Hajishafiee Ciara Treacy Jim Lagopoulos Sophie C. Andrews Adem T. Can Daniel F. Hermens |
| author_facet | Bonnie L. Quigley Nathan Wellington Jacob M. Levenstein Megan Dutton Ana P. Bouças Grace Forsyth Cyrana C. Gallay Maryam Hajishafiee Ciara Treacy Jim Lagopoulos Sophie C. Andrews Adem T. Can Daniel F. Hermens |
| author_sort | Bonnie L. Quigley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The aim of this study was to advance post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) understanding in older adults (48–77 years) by determining if circulating cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL17A and TNFα), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and neuroanatomical brain volumes (grey and white matter, hippocampus, and amygdala) significantly differed in those with versus without PTSD. While none of the tested cytokines showed a significant difference, serum BDNF and VEGF-A levels were found to be significantly higher in the PTSD cohort. The assay used for BDNF quantification was important, with differences in general BDNF detected, but not when pro- and mature BDNF were measured specifically. Additionally, BDNF genotyping revealed a significant difference in Val66Met genotype distribution by PTSD diagnosis, with Val66Met carriers generally having lower circulating levels of BDNF compared to their Val66Val counterparts, regardless of PTSD diagnosis. Neuroanatomically, an all-female subset was examined to find total grey and white matter volumes and left and right hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in those with PTSD. Collectively, these results show that both novel (VEGF-A) and established targets (BDNF and neuroimaging) may serve as useful biomarkers for older adults with PTSD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-734d5c65ec834b6084bb75e7e0d5a110 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-734d5c65ec834b6084bb75e7e0d5a1102025-08-20T02:16:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-91840-0Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorderBonnie L. Quigley0Nathan Wellington1Jacob M. Levenstein2Megan Dutton3Ana P. Bouças4Grace Forsyth5Cyrana C. Gallay6Maryam Hajishafiee7Ciara Treacy8Jim Lagopoulos9Sophie C. Andrews10Adem T. Can11Daniel F. Hermens12National PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastThompson Brain and Mind HealthcareNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastNational PTSD Research Centre at the Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine CoastAbstract The aim of this study was to advance post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) understanding in older adults (48–77 years) by determining if circulating cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL17A and TNFα), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and neuroanatomical brain volumes (grey and white matter, hippocampus, and amygdala) significantly differed in those with versus without PTSD. While none of the tested cytokines showed a significant difference, serum BDNF and VEGF-A levels were found to be significantly higher in the PTSD cohort. The assay used for BDNF quantification was important, with differences in general BDNF detected, but not when pro- and mature BDNF were measured specifically. Additionally, BDNF genotyping revealed a significant difference in Val66Met genotype distribution by PTSD diagnosis, with Val66Met carriers generally having lower circulating levels of BDNF compared to their Val66Val counterparts, regardless of PTSD diagnosis. Neuroanatomically, an all-female subset was examined to find total grey and white matter volumes and left and right hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in those with PTSD. Collectively, these results show that both novel (VEGF-A) and established targets (BDNF and neuroimaging) may serve as useful biomarkers for older adults with PTSD.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91840-0PTSDBDNFVal66MetVEGF-ACytokinesHippocampus |
| spellingShingle | Bonnie L. Quigley Nathan Wellington Jacob M. Levenstein Megan Dutton Ana P. Bouças Grace Forsyth Cyrana C. Gallay Maryam Hajishafiee Ciara Treacy Jim Lagopoulos Sophie C. Andrews Adem T. Can Daniel F. Hermens Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder Scientific Reports PTSD BDNF Val66Met VEGF-A Cytokines Hippocampus |
| title | Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_full | Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_fullStr | Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_short | Circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post-traumatic stress disorder |
| title_sort | circulating biomarkers and neuroanatomical brain structures differ in older adults with and without post traumatic stress disorder |
| topic | PTSD BDNF Val66Met VEGF-A Cytokines Hippocampus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91840-0 |
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