Lower BDNF levels on day one post-stroke were correlated with a higher incidence of post-stroke depression (OR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.389–0.779, p = 0.001), with a cut-off value of BDNF < 5.86 ng/mL to be predictive of depression development in the first two weeks. Here, BDNF is linked to depressive symptom measurement.