Levels of plasma neurofilament light chain and cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer or Parkinson disease

Abstract

Plasma neurofilament light (NFL) has been proposed as a blood-based biomarker for neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and parkinsonian disorders. However, the relationship between plasma NFL and cognitive decline in dementia due to Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains to be elucidated. In this research, 119 AD, 56 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 26 non-demented PD (PDND), and 23 Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) patients, as well as 59 cognitively healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Each subject underwent a battery of neuropsychological testing. Plasma NFL levels were measured in duplicate using an NF-Light assay and transferred onto the Simoa platform with a home-brew kit. Plasma NFL was significantly increased in the AD group, compared with the control, MCI, PDND, and PDD groups. Plasma NFL was significantly higher in the PDD group, compared with the PDND group. High plasma NFL correlated with poor cognition in AD and PD, but not with motor symptoms in PD. Plasma NFL may represent a biomarker of cognitive decline in AD and PD, with more specificity for AD.

The diagnostic performance of neurofilament light chain in CSF and blood for Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Age and sex have been determined to be important considerations in the application of NfL as a biomarker. NfL correlates with age in both healthy individuals and those with most neurodegenerative diseases [41,48,82–84]. In addition, CSF NfL concentration is significantly higher in males compared with females in healthy individuals and several neurodegenerative diseases [19,41]; however, mixed findings, with more modest differences, have been noted for blood NfL [66,82–84].…”

“…NfL correlates with age in both healthy individuals and those with most neurodegenerative diseases [41,48,[82][83][84]. In addition, CSF NfL concentration is significantly higher in males compared with females in healthy individuals and several neurodegenerative diseases [19,41]; however, mixed findings, with more modest differences, have been noted for blood NfL [66,[82][83][84]. Age did not moderate any of the effect sizes we observed; however, the average age could not be determined for several studies and the restricted range of ages across studies limited the ability to detect a moderating effect of age.…”

Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma neurofilament light relate to abnormal cognition

“…Our findings highlight the importance of better understanding potential mechanisms of age‐related neuroaxonal injury in the context of AD pathology development and progression. Prior work has suggested plasma NFL may be a useful biomarker of cognitive decline in AD and other neurodegenerative conditions, with greater specificity for AD compared to movement disorders [26]. Such improved specificity may be due to neuroaxonal degradation occurring secondary to neuronal death during the onset and progression of AD‐related cortical atrophy.…”

Treatments in Aicardi–Goutières syndrome

“…Not yet assessed in AGS, several groups have shown the potential utility of the aforementioned single molecule array digital ELISA technology to measure brain‐specific proteins (e.g. glial fibrillary acidic protein, Tau, and neurofibromatosis type l) in cerebrospinal fluid and blood as markers of brain cellular health …”

“…glial fibrillary acidic protein, Tau, and neurofibromatosis type l) in cerebrospinal fluid and blood as markers of brain cellular health. 28 Given the high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with mutations in AGS1-7, determining a positive effect of an effective therapy if large enough numbers of patients could be ascertained in the early stages of disease is probably possible. However, in view of the relative rarity of the disorder, well recognized, sometimes extreme, variation in disease expression between siblings is likely to present a major challenge to data interpretation in future trials.…”