NFL (neurofilament light chain) (CSF)
A primary structural component of the neuronal cytoskeleton and a marker of large-caliber axonal disintegration elevated. Multiple studies have found that levels of neurofilament light chain are significantly higher in people with Alzheimer’s disease compared with controls (effect size = 2.313, p <0.0001). On average, levels are about double in AD patients.
Invasive lumbar puncture, discomfort, recovery time in clinic to decrease risk of spinal fluid leakage
physican who can preform a lumbar puncture as well as a clinic designed for this testing, equipped lab (e.g., centrifuge), a way to measure the peptide (e.g.,mass spectrometer, protein assay kit, ELISA, or western blot)
Data collected by multiple groups. Alzforum meta analysis.
-
“Alzheimer's Disease vs Control: NFL (CSF).” Alzbiomarker. https://www.alzforum.org/alzbiomarker/meta-analysis/alzheimers-disease-vs-control-nfl-csf
-
“Blood Neurofilament Light a Promising Biomarker for Alzheimer’s?” Alzforum. https://www.alzforum.org/news/research-news/blood-neurofilament-light-promising-biomarker-alzheimers
-
Lista, S., Toschi, N., Baldacci, F., Zetterberg, H., Blennow, K., Kilimann, I., ... & Lamari, F. (2017). Diagnostic accuracy of CSF neurofilament light chain protein in the biomarker-guided classification system for Alzheimer's disease. Neurochemistry International, 108, 355-360. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28527630
- Hampel, H., Toschi, N., Baldacci, F., Zetterberg, H., Blennow, K., Kilimann, I., Teipel, S. J., ... & Lista, S. (2017). Alzheimer’s disease biomarker-guided diagnostic workflow using the added value of six combined cerebrospinal fluid candidates: Ab1–42, total-tau, phosphorylated-tau, NFL, neurogranin, and YKL-40. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 1(10), 10. https://alzheimer-recherche.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ALZ-DEM_Six-combined-CSF-biomarkers-in-AD_2018_uc-proof1.pdf