Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39548055›Full record

ArticleMolecular neurobiology2025

Serum Mature and Precursor Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factors and Their Association with Neurocognitive Function in ART-Naïve Adults Living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Henry U Michael, Antony M Rapulana, Theresa Smit, Njabulo Xulu, Sivapragashini Danaviah, Suvira Ramlall, Frasia Oosthuizen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular neurobiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Henry U MichaelDiscipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. 219060765@stu.ukzn.ac.za.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1944-0650
Antony M RapulanaAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.
Theresa SmitAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.
Njabulo XuluAfrica Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa.
Sivapragashini DanaviahFaculty of Applied Science, Eduvos, Midrand, South Africa.
Suvira RamlallDepartment of Psychiatry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Frasia OosthuizenDiscipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Funding

Statistical and Data Management Center (SDMC), AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG)UM1AI068634 · NIAID · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI Marlene Ann Cooper, Michael David Hughes · 2011 to 2026
$246.6M
NIAID NIH HHS UM1 AI068634
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study investigates the association between serum mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF), its precursor proBDNF, and neurocognitive function in ART-naïve adults with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, exploring the distinct roles of these neurotrophic factors in cognitive health. This cross-sectional analysis utilized stored baseline serum samples and neuropsychological test data from participants in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) A5199 study in the Johannesburg and Harare sites. Serum concentrations of mBDNF and proBDNF were quantified using ELISA. Neurocognitive function was assessed via standardized tests, with results adjusted for site-specific demographics. Linear and quantile regression models examined the relationship of mBDNF and proBDNF with a composite cognitive score (NPZ-6), and structural equation modeling (SEM) explored their association with individual cognitive test outcomes. The analysis involved 157 ART-naïve adults with HIV. Increased serum mBDNF levels showed a significant positive association with cognitive performance (β = 1.30, p = 0.02), while elevated proBDNF levels were linked to poorer outcomes, particularly affecting fine motor skills and speed (β =  - 0.29 to - 0.38, p ≤ 0.01). Quantile regression analysis highlighted mBDNF's stronger positive impact at higher cognitive performance percentiles (β = 1.04 (0.01, 2.06) at the 75th percentile), while proBDNF showed significant negative association at the 75th percentile (β =  - 0.26 (- 0.47, - 0.06)). The study highlights the positive association of mature BDNF and the negative association of proBDNF with cognitive function in HIV. These findings emphasize the need for longitudinal research to understand the temporal dynamics of neurotrophic factors during ART initiation and their potential as targets for neurocognitive interventions in HIV.

Indexed as

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic FactorCognitionHIV InfectionsProtein PrecursorsAdultAfrica South of the SaharaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsBDNF protein, humanBrain-Derived Neurotrophic Factorbrain-derived neurotrophic factor precursorProtein PrecursorsBrain-derived neurotrophic factorCognitionHIVSub-Saharan Africa

Identifiers

PMID39548055
PMCPMC11953136

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.