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Neurofilament Light Protein and Movement Disorders
JAMA Neurology; ePub 2018 Dec 3; Olsson, et al
Levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light (NFL) are associated with cognitive impairments in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia, according to a recent study. In other neurodegenerative disorders, NFL levels appear to reflect the intensity of the neurodegenerative processes. Researchers investigated NFL levels in
CSF obtained from controls and patients with several neurodegenerative diseases. 913 participants were included: 75 controls plus 114 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 397 with AD, 96 with frontotemporal dementia, 68 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), 41 with Parkinson disease (PD), 19 with PD with MCI, 29 with PD dementia, 33 with dementia with Lewy bodies, 21 with corticobasal syndrome, and 20 with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). They found:
- There was a stepwise increase in CSF NFL levels between control participants, participants with MCI, and those with AD, indicating that NFL levels increase with increasing cognitive impairment.
- Concentrations of NFL were highest in participants with ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
- In individuals with parkinsonian disorders, NFL concentrations were highest in those with PSP and corticobasal degeneration.
Olsson B, Portelius E, Cullen NC, et al. Association of cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light
protein levels with cognition in patients with dementia, motor neuron disease, and movement disorders. [Published online ahead of print December 3, 2018]. JAMA Neurology. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.3746.