Title:Neuronavigated Repetitive Transcranial Stimulation Improves Neurocognitive
Functioning in Veterans with Schizophrenia: A Possible Role of
BDNF Polymorphism
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Author(s): Xiuru Su, Haixia Liu, Xuan Wang, Xiuling Pan, Xuan Zhang, Xinyan Lu, Long Zhao, Yingnan Chen, Yujie Shang, Fengchun Wu*Meihong Xiu*
Affiliation:
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical
University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of
Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing Hui-
LongGuan Hospital, Beijing, China
Keywords:
Schizophrenia, rTMS, clinical response, BDNF, DLPFC, high-frequency.
Abstract: It has been reported in the previous literatures that high-frequency (HF) neuronavigated
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may improve neurocognitive functioning in patients
with schizophrenia. Nonetheless, the heterogeneity of the research findings with regards to the
effectiveness of HF-rTMS on the neurocognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia greatly
hinders its clinical application. The current study was designed to determine the predictive role of
BDNF variants for neurocognitive improvements after rTMS administration in veterans with schizophrenia.
109 hospitalized veterans with schizophrenia were randomly allocated to active HF-rTMS
(n=63) or sham stimulation (n=46) over left DLPFC for 4 consecutive weeks. Neurocognitive functions
were assessed by using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status
(RBANS) at baseline and at the end of week 4. BDNF polymorphism was genotyped by the
technicians. Compared with sham stimulation sessions, the immediate memory performance was
significantly increased in active sessions after neuronavigated HF-rTMS administration. In addition,
patients with the CC homozygotes demonstrated greater improvement of immediate memory after
rTMS treatment, while T allele carriers showed no significant improvement in immediate memory
domain relative to baseline performance of immediate memory. Our findings suggest that add-on
neuronavigated HF-rTMS is beneficial on immediate memory only in patients with CC homozygotes,
but not in T allele carriers. This pilot study provides further evidence for BDNF as a promise
biomarker in predicting the clinical response to rTMS stimulation.
