BDNF and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: However, while BDNF has been examined in numerous clinical studies ranging from single-dose to 9-month chronic administration in normal human volunteers, patients with diabetic neuropathy or patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, no effects of BDNF on food intake or body weight have been reported, and no studies were conducted to directly evaluate such effects [24], [25].