In line with this hypothesis, prenatal stress exposure is associated with alterations of the neurotrophin Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a crucial player in neurodevelopment and neuronal plasticity known to be involved in several neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases (Autry and Monteggia 2012; Zuccato and Cattaneo 2009). This evidence concerns the gene BDNF and psychiatric disorder.