Polymorphisms of BDNF Gene and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Family Based Association Study with Korean Trios

and it has been suggested that multiple genetic factors are im-plicated in the pathogenesis of ASDs.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, is a prosurvival factor that plays a key role in regulating neuronal survival, formation of functional synapses, plasticity of synaptic connections, and modulation of the differentiation and maintenance of phenotype in mature neurons throughout the human brain.