Neurotrophic Biomarkers

Neurotrophins are proteins that exert profound effects on cell survival and activity within the central nervous system, playing crucial roles in the survival of neurons. The observed alterations in neurotrophin levels among individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) further underscore their potential involvement in the disorder’s pathophysiology. This comprehensive review spans a 12-year period (2011–2023) and aims to evaluate the potential of neurotrophins as diagnostic biomarkers for SSD, employing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The screening process included 11 articles involving over 1000 SSD patients. The collective findings indicate that neurotrophins generally exhibited moderate performance across most models, with most area under the curve (AUC) values falling below 70%. Noteworthy, however, were a few models that utilized a panel of three biomarkers instead of one, showcasing AUCs exceeding 80%. While these results suggest a nuanced role for neurotrophins in SSD diagnosis, it becomes apparent that the evaluation of serum levels of these proteins has limited potential to emerge as a standalone component significantly enhancing the diagnosis and prognosis of SSD. The importance of utilizing multi-marker panels hints at the complex interplay of various factors in the neurobiological landscape of SSD, necessitating a more comprehensive approach for improved diagnostic accuracy.