The Influence of the BDNF Val66Met Variant on the Association Between Physical Activity/Grip Strength and Depressive Symptoms in Persons With Diabetes

The rs6265 in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with depression in people with diabetes. Both physical activity (PA) and grip strength are negatively associated with depression. We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the wave 10 survey data for a nationally representative sample of 1,051 diabetes participants of the Health and Retirement Study. Both greater PA (β = −.15) and stronger grip strength (β = −.02) were independently associated with depression. Although the interaction between BDNF rs6265 and PA on depressive symptoms was not significant, the negative PA-depression association was stronger among female non-Met carriers (β = −.19) and male Met carriers (β = −.14). Meanwhile, grip strength was associated with depression only in Met carriers (β = −.04), and similar association was observed in both males and females. In conclusion, female non-Met carriers and male Met carriers may benefit from PA.