A study conducted using a rat AD model with ICV injection of Aβ25–35 revealed that rats receiving 70% aqueous ethanol extracts containing husks of X. sorbifolium (5 and 10 mg kg−1) demonstrated an upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, which protects the dendritic spine and achieves cognition-improving effects. Here, BDNF is linked to Alzheimer disease.