-Levels of a certain protein, the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, predicted death in elderly women. This is according to a study published in the latest issue of The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

· The brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a protein made in the brain that acts like a growth factor and is involved in nerve cell health.

· Researchers studied 117 women and 71 men for almost six years. The study showed that women who had the lowest levels of the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor had more than twice the risk of death when compared with women with the highest levels.

· The reason for the relationship between Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and risk of death in women is not known. There did not appear to be a relationship between Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and risk of death in elderly men.

· This is an intriguing study as it brings up the question of whether we will someday be able to predict your risk of dying by a blood test.
· More studies are needed to clarify the function of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the reason why there was an increased risk of dying with higher levels.

Cristopher Geiler, M.D.
Reference
J Am Geriatr Soc 2009;57:1447-1452.