Neurotrophins in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

This review looked at special brain proteins called neurotrophins and how they might be involved in autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and tic disorders. These proteins are important for brain development and helping brain cells grow and connect properly. The research suggests problems with these proteins might contribute to symptoms in these conditions, but the results from different studies don't always agree, making it hard to draw clear conclusions.

This narrative review examines the role of neurotrophins (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor) in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability, and tic disorders. The review synthesized literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, encompassing both clinical and preclinical studies. Neurotrophins are critical for brain development, influencing neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival. The review found that dysregulation in neurotrophin signaling pathways is associated with core features of ASD and ADHD, may influence cognitive outcomes in intellectual disability, and potentially contributes to tic disorders through neuroimmune interactions.

However, findings across studies remain inconsistent due to methodological variability and limited longitudinal data.

Neurotrophins may serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neurodevelopmental disorders. However, inconsistent findings highlight need for standardized methodologies and longitudinal studies before clinical translation. Future research should focus on stratified designs across developmental stages and clinical phenotypes to clarify therapeutic potential.

Findings across studies remain inconsistent due to methodological variability and limited longitudinal data. The narrative review format limits systematic assessment of study quality and evidence synthesis.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and tic disorders, comprise a range of conditions that originate in early childhood and impact cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning. Despite their clinical heterogeneity, they often share common molecular and neurobiological framework. This narrative review aims to examine the role of neurotrophins-particularly the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, and related molecules-in the pathophysiology of NDDs, and to explore their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, including both clinical and preclinical studies.

Neurotrophins are critically involved in brain development, influencing neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival. Dysregulation in their signaling pathways has been associated with core features of ASD and ADHD and may modulate cognitive outcomes in ID. Emerging evidence also supports a role for neuroimmune interactions and neurotrophic dysfunction in tic disorders. However, findings across studies remain inconsistent due to methodological variability and limited longitudinal data.

Future research should aim for standardized methodologies and stratified, longitudinal designs to clarify their role across developmental stages and clinical phenotypes.