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Suicide is a major public health concern, claiming the lives of nearly 800,000 people worldwide each year. A history of a suicide attempt is a robust predictor of a future attempt. Findings from a 2017 study suggest that plasma levels of BDNF are a marker for suicidality.

BDNF is a protein that plays critical roles in the creation and functioning of neurons and the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time. Low BDNF levels are associated with an increased risk for depression.

The participants in the study included 34 women with a history of suicide attempt and 39 without (average age, 33 years). The women were matched based on age, ethnicity, family income, body mass index, and cigarette smoking history. The authors of the study assessed the women’s mental health history and current status and took blood samples to determine BDNF levels.

Thirty (88 percent) of the women who had attempted suicide had a lifetime history of major depressive disorder. Of these, 14 (40 percent) met the criteria for current major depressive disorder. The women with a history of suicide attempt had lower levels of BDNF than women without a history of suicide – a difference that was maintained even after taking into account other potential psychiatric or demographic factors. The authors of the study posited that lower BDNF levels represent a trait-like biochemical indicator of suicide risk and might be relevant for suicide prevention.

Other biochemical indicators of suicide have been identified, as well. For example, markers of accelerated extrinsic aging have been observed in the blood of suicide completers. Age acceleration is a phenomenon that occurs when an individual’s epigenetic age exceeds their chronological age. Learn more about epigenetic aging in this overview article.

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