BDNF and schizophrenia: BDNF is involved in neuronal growth and differentiation that is crucial for the pattern of the developing peripheral nervous system (Kasemeier-Kulesa et al., 2015), and is dysregulated in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's diseases, schizophrenia and depression (Angelucci et al., 2005; Murer et al., 2001).