The Integral Role of Neurotrophins, Growth Factors, and Aminopropyl Carbazole in the Attenuation of Cognitive Decline

Abstract

This review analyzes 8 studies on the attenuating effects neurotrophins, growth factors, and aminopropyl carbazole (P7C3) have on neurodegeneration and the hypothesized mechanisms for this relationship. Increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nitric oxide (NO), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-b1), and fibronectin type III domain-containing protein-5 (FNDC5) have positive correlations with increases in hippocampus volume and improved scores on memory tests. Conversely, upregulation of the protein leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (Lrig1) was determined to decrease the neuroregenerative potential conferred by BDNF.  The results indicate that BDNF, NO, IGF-I, TGF-b1, and FNDC5 may positively influence neurogenesis and the maintenance of the neuronal niche in the hippocampus. The therapeutic agent P7C3 was shown to have similar potential by directly regulating BDNF. Further studies are needed to assess the effects that manipulation of each molecule has on mitigating cognitive decline caused by chronic disease.