Modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

A method of treating a subject for Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction(s), and/or depression using a bioelectric stimulator comprising an electric signal generator and electrode(s), which electric signal generator is programmed to produce at least one bioelectric signal that stimulates target tissue comprising living cells of the subject to upregulate expression and/or release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by the living cells, wherein the bioelectric signal comprises, within 15%, a bioelectric signal having a biphasic pulse at a frequency selected from the group consisting of 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 40 Hz, 80 Hz, and 100 Hz, with a pulse width of either about 300 microseconds or about 1,000 microseconds, and a current of about 2 mA as may be measured at the cellular level to stimulate target tissue comprising the living cells of the subject, the method comprising:

• administering the bioelectric signal to the living cells via the electrode(s) for at least 5 minutes to about an hour, so as to upregulate the expression of BDNF by the living cells so as to treat the subject for Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction(s), and/or depression.