Globally, neurodegenerative diseases cause a significant degree of disability and distress. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), primarily found in the brain, has a substantial role in the development and maintenance of various nerve roles and is associated with the family of neurotrophins, including neuronal growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5). BDNF has affinity with tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrKB), which is found in the brain in large amounts and is expressed in several cells. Several studies have shown that decrease in BDNF causes an imbalance in neuronal functioning and survival. Moreover, BDNF has several important roles, such as improving synaptic plasticity and contributing to long-lasting memory formation. BDNF has been linked to the pathology of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This review aims to describe recent efforts to understand the connection between the level of BDNF and neurodegenerative diseases. Several studies have shown that a high level of BDNF is associated with a lower risk for developing a neurodegenerative disease.
BACKGROUND: Dental anxiety is a known barrier in accessing dental health care and an established factor related to poor oral health. This paper reports on prevalence of dental anxiety and associated factors among patients visiting a dental institute in Himachal Pradesh, India. METHODS: The study was conducted on 200 patients who visited Himachal Institute of Dental Sciences, Paonta Sahib (HP) for dental treatment. Data on dental anxiety were collected using a self-completed questionnaire and were measured by the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 at significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The mean MDAS score was 9.3±4.0 and the prevalence of dental anxiety was found to be 37%. Dental anxiety was found to be higher among females (P<0.001), participants of lower age (P<0.001), and those who had never visited the dentist before (P=0.028). Dentally anxious individuals were also found to have less number of filled teeth compared to those without dental anxiety (P=0.020). CONCLUSION: Dental anxiety was found to be significantly associated with age, gender, and dental visiting pattern.
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