Bdnf is one of the most active and essential of the neurotophins, contributing to the growth and differentiation of neurons in the hippocampus, cortex and forebrain. These areas are key for cognition, learning and memory. Deficiency in Bdnf levels have been linked to a host of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, depression, schizophrenia and dementia, making this an important model for studying the central nervous system.