Low levels of brain chemical linked to obesity

A study published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine has found a link between low levels of a brain chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF for short) and a gene defect that leads to obesity.

A study of 33 people with the rare WAGR syndrome found that those with deletions of a gene encoding for BDNF had higher body mass indexes in childhood and tended to overeat compared with those with intact BDNF.

Why does this small study of people with a rare disorder matter to you and me? The research suggests that BDNF, which plays a role in memory functions, also influences appetite and weight regulation. Some people may produce more BDNF than others based on their genes. Therapies to reduce obesity can perhaps be built around regulating BDNF levels. And let's not forget the research by UC Irvine researcher Carl Cotman that shows exercise increases BDNF levels.

-- Shari Roan

Photo credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times