Fang X, et al. - In view of the increasing evidence suggesting a close relation between both SIRT1 and BDNF and development of depression, researchers examined how BDNF and SIRT1 influence depressive symptoms and investigated risk factors for the depressive symptoms in schizophrenia patients. In a group of 203 participants (case/controls, 174/29), they used the CDSS score 7 or above to define significant depression and used PANSS and RBANS to evaluate the psychotic symptoms and cognitive functions in schizophrenia patients, respectively. Schizophrenia patients vs healthy subjects displayed markedly lower levels of BDNF. Patients with depression vs those with no depression had a worse psychotic symptom, a poorer cognitive function, as well as lower plasma BDNF and SIRT1 levels. As per findings, low BDNF and SIRT1 concentration value may be liable for the occurrence of depression in schizophrenic patients. This was evident apart from their association with psychotic symptoms.