Abstract: The invention relates to a method for diagnosing or prognosing depression, in particular major depression, in a subject, or determining whether a subject is at increased risk of developing depression, in particular major depression, comprising: determining a level, or an activity, or both said level and said activity, of neurotrophin 3 and/or of a transcription product of a gene coding for neurotrophin 3 in a sample from said subject; and comparing said level, or said activity, or both said level and said activity, to a reference value representing a known disease or health status, thereby diagnosing or prognosing depression in said subject, or determining whether said subject is at increased risk of developing said depression.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of ligands to GABAB receptors for increasing neurotrophin levels in the central nervous system.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing or prognosing Alzheimer's disease in a subject, or determining whether a subject is at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, involves determining a level, or an activity, or both the level and the activity, of nerve growth factor in a sample taken from cerebrospinal fluid of the subject, and comparing the level, or the activity, or both the level and the activity, to a reference value representing a known disease or health status, wherein a varied level, or activity, or both the level and the activity, of nerve growth factor in the cerebrospinal fluid from the subject relative to the reference value representing a known health status indicates a diagnosis, or prognosis, or increased risk of the Alzheimer's disease in the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of ligands to GABAB receptors for increasing neurotrophin levels in the central nervous system.