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Gaetani L, Parnetti L, Calabresi P, Di Filippo M. Tracing Neurological Diseases in the Presymptomatic Phase: Insights From Neurofilament Light Chain. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:672954. [PMID: 34108859 PMCID: PMC8180886 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.672954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of neurological diseases in their presymptomatic phase will be a fundamental aim in the coming years. This step is necessary both to optimize early diagnostics and to verify the effectiveness of experimental disease modifying drugs in the early stages of diseases. Among the biomarkers that can detect neurological diseases already in their preclinical phase, neurofilament light chain (NfL) has given the most promising results. Recently, its measurement in serum has enabled the identification of neurodegeneration in diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) up to 6–10 years before the onset of symptoms. Similar results have been obtained in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), up to 2 years before clinical onset. Study of the longitudinal dynamics of serum NfL has also revealed interesting aspects of the pathophysiology of these diseases in the preclinical phase. This review sought to discuss these very recent findings on serum NfL in the presymptomatic phase of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Gaetani
- Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lucilla Parnetti
- Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Paolo Calabresi
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Neuroscience Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Di Filippo
- Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Willemse EAJ, Scheltens P, Teunissen CE, Vijverberg EGB. A neurologist's perspective on serum neurofilament light in the memory clinic: a prospective implementation study. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2021; 13:101. [PMID: 34006321 PMCID: PMC8132439 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00841-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Neurofilament light in serum (sNfL) is a biomarker for axonal damage with elevated levels in many neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative dementias. Since within-group variation of sNfL is large and concentrations increase with aging, sNfL’s clinical use in memory clinic practice remains to be established. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the clinical use of serum neurofilament light (sNfL), a cross-disease biomarker for axonal damage, in a tertiary memory clinic cohort. Methods Six neurologists completed questionnaires regarding the usefulness of sNfL (n = 5–42 questionnaires/neurologist). Patients that visited the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam for the first time between May and October 2019 (n = 109) were prospectively included in this single-center implementation study. SNfL levels were analyzed on Simoa and reported together with normal values in relation to age, as part of routine diagnostic work-up and in addition to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker analysis. Results SNfL was perceived as useful in 53% (n = 58) of the cases. SNfL was more often perceived as useful in patients < 62 years (29/48, 60%, p = 0.05) and males (41/65, 63%, p < 0.01). Availability of CSF biomarker results at time of result discussion had no influence. We observed non-significant trends for increased perceived usefulness of sNfL for patients with the diagnosis subjective cognitive decline (64%), psychiatric disorder (71%), or uncertain diagnosis (67%). SNfL was mostly helpful to neurologists in confirming or excluding neurodegeneration. Whether sNfL was regarded as useful strongly depended on which neurologist filled out the questionnaire (ranging from 0 to 73% of useful cases/neurologist). Discussion Regardless of the availability of CSF biomarker results, sNfL was perceived as a useful tool in more than half of the evaluated cases in a tertiary memory clinic practice. Based on our results, we recommend the analysis of the biomarker sNfL to confirm or exclude neurodegeneration in patients below 62 years old and in males. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-021-00841-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A J Willemse
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - P Scheltens
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C E Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E G B Vijverberg
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Brain Research Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Solje E, Benussi A, Buratti E, Remes AM, Haapasalo A, Borroni B. State-of-the-Art Methods and Emerging Fluid Biomarkers in the Diagnostics of Dementia-A Short Review and Diagnostic Algorithm. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11050788. [PMID: 33925655 PMCID: PMC8145467 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11050788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common neurodegenerative dementias include Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The correct etiology-based diagnosis is pivotal for clinical management of these diseases as well as for the suitable timing and choosing the accurate disease-modifying therapies when these become available. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based methods, detecting altered levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Tau, phosphorylated Tau, and Aβ-42 in AD, allowed the wide use of this set of biomarkers in clinical practice. These analyses demonstrate a high diagnostic accuracy in AD but suffer from a relatively restricted usefulness due to invasiveness and lack of prognostic value. In recent years, the development of novel advanced techniques has offered new state-of-the-art opportunities in biomarker discovery. These include single molecule array technology (SIMOA), a tool for non-invasive analysis of ultra-low levels of central nervous system-derived molecules from biofluids, such as CSF or blood, and real-time quaking (RT-QuIC), developed to analyze misfolded proteins. In the present review, we describe the history of methods used in the fluid biomarker analyses of dementia, discuss specific emerging biomarkers with translational potential for clinical use, and suggest an algorithm for the use of new non-invasive blood biomarkers in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine-Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland;
- Neuro Center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70029 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Anne M. Remes
- Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, University of Oulu, 90230 Oulu, Finland;
- Medical Research Center (MRC), Oulu University Hospital, 90220 Oulu, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland;
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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Neurofilaments as Emerging Biomarkers of Neuroaxonal Damage to Differentiate Behavioral Frontotemporal Dementia from Primary Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11050754. [PMID: 33922390 PMCID: PMC8146697 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11050754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a clinical syndrome resulting from various causes of neuronal demises associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Symptoms include behavioral and personality changes, social cognitive impairment, and executive function deficits. There is a significant clinical overlap between this syndrome and various primary psychiatric disorders (PPD). Structural and functional neuroimaging are considered helpful to support the diagnosis of bvFTD, but their sensitivity and specificity remain imperfect. There is growing evidence concerning the potential of neurofilaments as biomarkers reflecting axonal and neuronal lesions. Ultrasensitive analytic platforms have recently enabled neurofilament light chains’ (NfL) detection not only from cerebrospinal fluid but also from peripheral blood samples in FTD patients. In this short review, we present recent advances and perspectives for the use of NfL assessments as biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage to differentiate bvFTD from primary psychiatric disorders.
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Karantali E, Kazis D, Chatzikonstantinou S, Petridis F, Mavroudis I. The role of neurofilament light chain in frontotemporal dementia: a meta-analysis. Aging Clin Exp Res 2021; 33:869-881. [PMID: 32306372 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01554-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most frequent dementia, after Alzheimer's, in patients under the age of 65. It encompasses clinical entities characterized by behavioral, language, and executive control dysfunction. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a new, non-disease specific, widely studied biomarker indicative of axonal injury and degeneration. Various studies have previously explored the role of NfL in the diagnostic process, monitoring, and prognosis of dementia. The current systematic review and meta-analysis include all the available data concerning the role of NfL in frontotemporal dementia and its use as a potential biomarker in differentiating patients with FTD from (a) healthy individuals, (b) Alzheimer's dementia, (c) Dementia with Lewy bodies, (d) Motor Neuron disease, (e) Parkinsonian syndromes, and (f) psychiatric disorders. We also analyze the utility of NfL in distinguishing specific FTD subgroups. Neurofilament light chain has a potential role in differentiating patients with frontotemporal dementia from healthy controls, patients with Alzheimer's dementia, and psychiatric disorders. Higher NfL levels were also noted in patients with semantic primary progressive aphasia (PPA) when compared with behavioral FTD and non-fluent PPA patients. Further studies exploring the use of NfL in frontotemporal dementia are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Karantali
- Third Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Dimitrios Kazis
- Third Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Fivos Petridis
- Third Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Mavroudis
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds, UK
- Medical School, Cyprus University, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Galetta K, Deshpande C, Healy BC, Glanz B, Ziehn M, Saxena S, Paul A, Saleh F, Collins M, Gaitan-Walsh P, Castro-Mendoza P, Weiner HL, Chitnis T. Serum neurofilament levels and patient-reported outcomes in multiple sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2021; 8:631-638. [PMID: 33492760 PMCID: PMC7951092 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Serum neurofilament light (sNfL) is a promising new biomarker in multiple sclerosis (MS). We explored the relationship between sNfL and health outcomes and resource use in MS patients. METHODS MS patients with serum samples and health-outcome measurements collected longitudinally between 2011 and 2016 were analyzed. sNfL values were evaluated across age and gender. Data were analyzed using correlation with log-transformed sNfL values. RESULTS A total of 304 MS patients with a mean age of 32.9 years, average EDSS of 1.6 (SD = 1.5) and baseline sNfL of 8.8 (range 1.23-78.3) pg/mL were studied. Baseline sNFL values increased with age and were higher in females. Baseline sNfL correlated with baseline Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life physical composite (mean = 49.4 (9.1), P = 0.035) and baseline EDSS (P = 0.002). Other PRO measures at baseline did not show a significant relationship with baseline sNfL. Average of baseline and follow-up sNfL correlated with MSQoL physical-role limitations (mean = 48.9 (10.8), P = 0.043) and social-functioning (mean = 52.3 (7), P = 0.034) at 24-month follow-up. We found a trend for numerically higher sNfL levels in nonpersistent patients compared to those who were persistent to treatment (11.13 vs. 8.53 pg/mL, P = 0.093) measured as average of baseline and 24-month values. Baseline NfL was associated with number of intravenous steroid infusions (mean = 0.2; SD = 3.0, P = 0.013), whereas the average of baseline and 12 months NfL values related to inpatient stays at 12 months (mean = 0.2; SD = 3.0 P = 0.053). CONCLUSION Serum NfL is a patient-centric biomarker that correlated with MS patient health-outcomes and healthcare utilization measures in a real-world cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Galetta
- Brigham Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Brian C Healy
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bonnie Glanz
- Brigham Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marina Ziehn
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - Shrishti Saxena
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anu Paul
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fermisk Saleh
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mikaela Collins
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Patricia Gaitan-Walsh
- Brigham Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paola Castro-Mendoza
- Brigham Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Howard L Weiner
- Brigham Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tanuja Chitnis
- Brigham Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Brisson M, Brodeur C, Létourneau‐Guillon L, Masellis M, Stoessl J, Tamm A, Zukotynski K, Ismail Z, Gauthier S, Rosa‐Neto P, Soucy J. CCCDTD5: Clinical role of neuroimaging and liquid biomarkers in patients with cognitive impairment. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2021; 6:e12098. [PMID: 33532543 PMCID: PMC7821956 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Since 1989, four Canadian Consensus Conferences on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia (CCCDTDs) have provided evidence-based dementia diagnostic and treatment guidelines for Canadian clinicians and researchers. We present the results from the Neuroimaging and Fluid Biomarkers Group of the 5th CCCDTD (CCCDTD5), which addressed topics chosen by the steering committee to reflect advances in the field and build on our previous guidelines. Recommendations on Imaging and Fluid Biomarker Use from this Conference cover a series of different fields. Prior structural imaging recommendations for both computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remain largely unchanged, but MRI is now more central to the evaluation than before, with suggested sequences described here. The use of visual rating scales for both atrophy and white matter anomalies is now included in our recommendations. Molecular imaging with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]-FDG) Positron Emisson Tomography (PET) or [99mTc]-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime/ethylene cysteinate dimer ([99mTc]-HMPAO/ECD) Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT), should now decidedly favor PET. The value of [18F]-FDG PET in the assessment of neurodegenerative conditions has been established with greater certainty since the previous conference, and it has now been recognized as a useful biomarker to establish the presence of neurodegeneration by a number of professional organizations around the world. Furthermore, the role of amyloid PET has been clarified and our recommendations follow those from other groups in multiple countries. SPECT with [123I]-ioflupane (DaTscanTM) is now included as a useful study in differentiating Alzheimer's disease (AD) from Lewy body disease. Finally, liquid biomarkers are in a rapid phase of development and, could lead to a revolution in the assessment AD and other neurodegenerative conditions at a reasonable cost. We hope these guidelines will be useful for clinicians, researchers, policy makers, and the lay public, to inform a current and evidence-based approach to the use of neuroimaging and liquid biomarkers in clinical dementia evaluation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Brisson
- Centre hospitalier de l'université de QuébecQuebec CityCanada
| | | | | | | | - Jon Stoessl
- Vancouver Coastal Health, University of British‐ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | | | | | - Zahinoor Ismail
- Department of Psychiatry, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O'Brien Institute for Public HealthUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryCanada
| | | | - Pedro Rosa‐Neto
- McGill Center for Studies in AgingCanada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological InstituteMontrealCanada
| | - Jean‐Paul Soucy
- Centre hospitalier de l'université de MontréalMontrealCanada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological InstituteMontrealCanada
- PERFORM Center, Concordia UniversityMontrealCanada
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58
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Sechi E, Mariotto S, McKeon A, Krecke KN, Pittock SJ, Ferrari S, Monaco S, Flanagan EP, Zanzoni S, Rabinstein AA, Wingerchuk DM, Nasr DM, Zalewski NL. Serum Neurofilament to Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lesion Area Ratio Differentiates Spinal Cord Infarction From Acute Myelitis. Stroke 2021; 52:645-654. [PMID: 33423516 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.120.031482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The diagnosis of spontaneous spinal cord infarction (SCI) is limited by the lack of diagnostic biomarkers and MRI features that often overlap with those of other myelopathies, especially acute myelitis. We investigated whether the ratio between serum neurofilament light chain levels and MRI T2-lesion area (neurofilament light chain/area ratio-NAR) differentiates SCI from acute myelitis of similar severity. METHODS We retrospectively identified Mayo Clinic patients (January 1, 2000-December 31, 2019) with (1) SCI, (2) AQP4 (aquaporin 4)-IgG or MOG (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein)-IgG-associated myelitis at disease clinical presentation, or (3) idiopathic transverse myelitis from a previously identified population-based cohort of patients seronegative for AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG. Serum neurofilament light chain levels (pg/mL) were assessed at the Verona University (SIMOA, Quanterix) in a blinded fashion on available stored samples obtained ≤3 months from myelopathy presentation. For each patient, the largest spinal cord lesion area (mm2) was manually outlined by 2 independent raters on sagittal T2-weighted MRI images, and the mean value was used to determine NAR (pg/[mL·mm2]). RESULTS Forty-eight patients were included SCI, 20 (definite, 11; probable, 6; possible, 3); acute myelitis, 28 (AQP4-IgG-associated, 17; MOG-IgG-associated, 5; idiopathic transverse myelitis, 6). The median expanded disability status scale score (range) at myelopathy nadir were 7.75 (2-8.5) and 5.5 (2-8), respectively. Serum neurofilament light chain levels (median [range] pg/mL) in patients with SCI (188 [14.3-2793.4]) were significantly higher compared with patients with AQP4-IgG-associated myelitis (37 [0.8-6942.9]), MOG-IgG-associated myelitis (45.8 [4-283.8]), and idiopathic transverse myelitis (15.6 [0.9-217.8]); P=0.01. NAR showed the highest accuracy for identification of SCI versus acute myelitis with values ≥0.35 pg/(mL·mm2) yielding 86% specificity and 95% sensitivity (area under the curve=0.93). The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 6.67 and 0.06, respectively. NAR remained independently associated with SCI after adjusting for age, gender, immunotherapy before sampling, and days from myelopathy symptoms onset to sampling (P=0.0007). CONCLUSIONS NAR is a novel and promising clinical biomarker for differentiation of SCI from acute myelitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elia Sechi
- Departments of Neurology (E.S., A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F., A.A.R., D.M.N., N.L.Z.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester.,Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences (E.S., S. Mariotto, S.F., S. Monaco), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Sara Mariotto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences (E.S., S. Mariotto, S.F., S. Monaco), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Andrew McKeon
- Departments of Neurology (E.S., A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F., A.A.R., D.M.N., N.L.Z.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester.,Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester
| | | | - Sean J Pittock
- Departments of Neurology (E.S., A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F., A.A.R., D.M.N., N.L.Z.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester.,Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester
| | - Sergio Ferrari
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences (E.S., S. Mariotto, S.F., S. Monaco), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Monaco
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences (E.S., S. Mariotto, S.F., S. Monaco), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Eoin P Flanagan
- Departments of Neurology (E.S., A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F., A.A.R., D.M.N., N.L.Z.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester.,Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester
| | - Serena Zanzoni
- Centro Piattaforme Tecnologiche (S.Z.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Alejandro A Rabinstein
- Departments of Neurology (E.S., A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F., A.A.R., D.M.N., N.L.Z.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester
| | | | - Deena M Nasr
- Departments of Neurology (E.S., A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F., A.A.R., D.M.N., N.L.Z.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester
| | - Nicholas L Zalewski
- Departments of Neurology (E.S., A.M., S.J.P., E.P.F., A.A.R., D.M.N., N.L.Z.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester
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Fluid Biomarkers of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1281:123-139. [PMID: 33433873 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51140-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A timely diagnosis of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is frequently challenging due to the heterogeneous symptomatology and poor phenotype-pathological correlation. Fluid biomarkers that reflect FTD pathophysiology could be instrumental in both clinical practice and pharmaceutical trials. In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases: amyloid-β and tau in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be used to exclude Alzheimer's disease, while neurofilament light chain (NfL) is emerging as a promising, albeit nonspecific, marker of neurodegeneration in both CSF and blood. Gene-specific biomarkers such as PGRN in GRN mutation carriers and dipeptide repeat proteins in C9orf72 mutation carriers are potential target engagement markers in genetic FTD trials. Novel techniques capable of measuring very low concentrations of brain-derived proteins in peripheral fluids are facilitating studies of blood biomarkers as a minimally invasive alternative to CSF. A major remaining challenge is the identification of a biomarker that can be used to predict the neuropathological substrate in sporadic FTD patients.
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60
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Barro C, Chitnis T, Weiner HL. Blood neurofilament light: a critical review of its application to neurologic disease. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:2508-2523. [PMID: 33146954 PMCID: PMC7732243 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal injury is a universal event that occurs in disease processes that affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems. A blood biomarker linked to neuronal injury would provide a critical measure to understand and treat neurologic diseases. Neurofilament light chain (NfL), a cytoskeletal protein expressed only in neurons, has emerged as such a biomarker. With the ability to quantify neuronal damage in blood, NfL is being applied to a wide range of neurologic conditions to investigate and monitor disease including assessment of treatment efficacy. Blood NfL is not specific for one disease and its release can also be induced by physiological processes. Longitudinal studies in multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and stroke show accumulation of NfL over days followed by elevated levels over months. Therefore, it may be hard to determine with a single measurement when the peak of NfL is reached and when the levels are normalized. Nonetheless, measurement of blood NfL provides a new blood biomarker for neurologic diseases overcoming the invasiveness of CSF sampling that restricted NfL clinical application. In this review, we examine the use of blood NfL as a biologic test for neurologic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Barro
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tanuja Chitnis
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Howard L Weiner
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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61
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Spotorno N, Lindberg O, Nilsson C, Landqvist Waldö M, van Westen D, Nilsson K, Vestberg S, Englund E, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Lätt J, Markus N, Lars-Olof W, Alexander S. Plasma neurofilament light protein correlates with diffusion tensor imaging metrics in frontotemporal dementia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236384. [PMID: 33108404 PMCID: PMC7591030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofilaments are structural components of neurons and are particularly abundant in highly myelinated axons. The levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma have been related to degeneration in several neurodegenerative conditions including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and NfL is currently considered as the most promising diagnostic and prognostic fluid biomarker in FTD. Although the location and function of filaments in the healthy nervous system suggests a link between increased NfL and white matter degeneration, such a claim has not been fully elucidated in vivo, especially in the context of FTD. The present study provides evidence of an association between the plasma levels of NfL and white matter involvement in behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) by relating plasma concentration of NfL to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics in a group of 20 bvFTD patients. The results of both voxel-wise and tract specific analysis showed that increased plasma NfL concentration is associated with a reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) in a widespread set of white matter tracts including the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the fronto-occipital fasciculus the anterior thalamic radiation and the dorsal cingulum bundle. Plasma NfL concentration also correlated with cortical thinning in a portion of the right medial prefrontal cortex and of the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex. These results support the hypothesis that blood NfL levels reflect the global level of neurodegeneration in bvFTD and help to advance our understanding of the association between this blood biomarker for FTD and the disease process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Spotorno
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Olof Lindberg
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christer Nilsson
- Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Landqvist Waldö
- Department of clinical Sciences, Clinical Sciences Helsingborg, Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Danielle van Westen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Nilsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | | | - Elisabet Englund
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Jimmy Lätt
- Center for Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nilsson Markus
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Wahlund Lars-Olof
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Santillo Alexander
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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Hänninen K, Jääskeläinen O, Herukka SK, Soilu-Hänninen M. Vitamin D supplementation and serum neurofilament light chain in interferon-beta-1b-treated MS patients. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01772. [PMID: 32705821 PMCID: PMC7507359 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a promising biomarker of MS activity, progression, and treatment response. The aim of the present study was to address whether sNfL concentrations are affected by supplementation of vitamin D and correlate with disease activity in interferon-beta-1b (IFNb-1b)-treated Finnish MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Serum samples were available of 32 participants of the Finnish vitamin D randomized controlled trial (17 vitamin D/15 placebo). Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D was measured using radioimmunoassay and sNfL using single-molecule array (Simoa). Correlation of sNfL with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity, burden of disease (BOD, mm3 ), and disability was assessed at the study baseline and at 52 weeks. RESULTS Serum NfL concentrations were similar in the patients randomized to high-dose vitamin D and placebo at the study baseline and at month 12 follow-up (p-value). Concentrations of sNfL were higher in patients with Gadolinium-enhancing lesions in brain MRI: median (95% CI) sNfL was 14.84 (9.9-42.5) pg/ml and 11.39 (8.9-13.2) pg/ml in patients without Gd+ lesions (p = .0144) and correlated with enhancing lesion volume (Pearson r = .36, p = .037) at the study baseline but not at week 52. Serum NfL did not correlate with the MRI BOD or disability measured by expanded disability status scale and 25-foot walk test. CONCLUSION In this small cohort of clinically stable IFN-treated Finnish MS patients, sNfL levels were similarly low in patients supplemented with high-dose vitamin D or placebo. Subclinical disease activity in MRI was associated with higher sNfL levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katariina Hänninen
- Turku University Hospital Neurocenter, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Olli Jääskeläinen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine-Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sanna-Kaisa Herukka
- Institute of Clinical Medicine-Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Neurology, Neuro Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Merja Soilu-Hänninen
- Turku University Hospital Neurocenter, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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63
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Different Clinical Contexts of Use of Blood Neurofilament Light Chain Protein in the Spectrum of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2020; 57:4667-4691. [PMID: 32772223 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02035-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the most pressing challenges in the clinical research of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) is the validation and standardization of pathophysiological biomarkers for different contexts of use (CoUs), such as early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of treatment response. Neurofilament light chain (NFL) concentration is a particularly promising candidate, an indicator of axonal degeneration, which can be analyzed in peripheral blood with advanced ultrasensitive methods. Serum/plasma NFL concentration is closely correlated with cerebrospinal fluid NFL and directly reflects neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Here, we provide an update on the feasible CoU of blood NFL in NDDs and translate recent findings to potentially valuable clinical practice applications. As NFL is not a disease-specific biomarker, however, blood NFL is an easily accessible biomarker with promising different clinical applications for several NDDs: (1) early detection and diagnosis (i.e., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, atypical parkinsonisms, sporadic late-onset ataxias), (2) prognosis (Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease), and (3) prediction of time to symptom onset (presymptomatic mutation carriers in genetic Alzheimer's disease and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3).
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64
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Ducharme S, Dols A, Laforce R, Devenney E, Kumfor F, van den Stock J, Dallaire-Théroux C, Seelaar H, Gossink F, Vijverberg E, Huey E, Vandenbulcke M, Masellis M, Trieu C, Onyike C, Caramelli P, de Souza LC, Santillo A, Waldö ML, Landin-Romero R, Piguet O, Kelso W, Eratne D, Velakoulis D, Ikeda M, Perry D, Pressman P, Boeve B, Vandenberghe R, Mendez M, Azuar C, Levy R, Le Ber I, Baez S, Lerner A, Ellajosyula R, Pasquier F, Galimberti D, Scarpini E, van Swieten J, Hornberger M, Rosen H, Hodges J, Diehl-Schmid J, Pijnenburg Y. Recommendations to distinguish behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia from psychiatric disorders. Brain 2020; 143:1632-1650. [PMID: 32129844 PMCID: PMC7849953 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a frequent cause of early-onset dementia. The diagnosis of bvFTD remains challenging because of the limited accuracy of neuroimaging in the early disease stages and the absence of molecular biomarkers, and therefore relies predominantly on clinical assessment. BvFTD shows significant symptomatic overlap with non-degenerative primary psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders and even personality disorders. To date, ∼50% of patients with bvFTD receive a prior psychiatric diagnosis, and average diagnostic delay is up to 5-6 years from symptom onset. It is also not uncommon for patients with primary psychiatric disorders to be wrongly diagnosed with bvFTD. The Neuropsychiatric International Consortium for Frontotemporal Dementia was recently established to determine the current best clinical practice and set up an international collaboration to share a common dataset for future research. The goal of the present paper was to review the existing literature on the diagnosis of bvFTD and its differential diagnosis with primary psychiatric disorders to provide consensus recommendations on the clinical assessment. A systematic literature search with a narrative review was performed to determine all bvFTD-related diagnostic evidence for the following topics: bvFTD history taking, psychiatric assessment, clinical scales, physical and neurological examination, bedside cognitive tests, neuropsychological assessment, social cognition, structural neuroimaging, functional neuroimaging, CSF and genetic testing. For each topic, responsible team members proposed a set of minimal requirements, optimal clinical recommendations, and tools requiring further research or those that should be developed. Recommendations were listed if they reached a ≥ 85% expert consensus based on an online survey among all consortium participants. New recommendations include performing at least one formal social cognition test in the standard neuropsychological battery for bvFTD. We emphasize the importance of 3D-T1 brain MRI with a standardized review protocol including validated visual atrophy rating scales, and to consider volumetric analyses if available. We clarify the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET for the exclusion of bvFTD when normal, whereas non-specific regional metabolism abnormalities should not be over-interpreted in the case of a psychiatric differential diagnosis. We highlight the potential role of serum or CSF neurofilament light chain to differentiate bvFTD from primary psychiatric disorders. Finally, based on the increasing literature and clinical experience, the consortium determined that screening for C9orf72 mutation should be performed in all possible/probable bvFTD cases or suspected cases with strong psychiatric features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ducharme
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Str., Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Annemiek Dols
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, GGZ InGeest, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire (CIME), Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emma Devenney
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fiona Kumfor
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jan van den Stock
- Laboratory for Translational Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Harro Seelaar
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Flora Gossink
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, GGZ InGeest, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Everard Vijverberg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Edward Huey
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Psychiatry, Colombia University, New York, USA
| | - Mathieu Vandenbulcke
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Masellis
- Department of Neurology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Calvin Trieu
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, GGZ InGeest, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chiadi Onyike
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Paulo Caramelli
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Cruz de Souza
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Research Group, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Landqvist Waldö
- Division of Clinical Sciences Helsingborg, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Olivier Piguet
- Division of Clinical Sciences Helsingborg, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Wendy Kelso
- Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Dhamidhu Eratne
- Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Dennis Velakoulis
- Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Manabu Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - David Perry
- Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Peter Pressman
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, USA
| | - Bradley Boeve
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Mendez
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Medical Centre, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Carole Azuar
- Department of Neurology, Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Richard Levy
- Department of Neurology, Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Department of Neurology, Hôpital La Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sandra Baez
- Department of Psychology, Andes University, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Alan Lerner
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, USA
| | - Ratnavalli Ellajosyula
- Department of Neurology, Manipal Hospital and Annasawmy Mudaliar Hospital, Bangalore, India
| | - Florence Pasquier
- Univ Lille, Inserm U1171, Memory Center, CHU Lille, DISTAlz, Lille, France
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Centro Dino Ferrari, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit Milan, Italy
| | - Elio Scarpini
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Centro Dino Ferrari, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit Milan, Italy
| | - John van Swieten
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Howard Rosen
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - John Hodges
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Janine Diehl-Schmid
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Yolande Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Cajanus A, Katisko K, Kontkanen A, Jääskeläinen O, Hartikainen P, Haapasalo A, Herukka SK, Vanninen R, Solje E, Hall A, Remes AM. Serum neurofilament light chain in FTLD: association with C9orf72, clinical phenotype, and prognosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:903-910. [PMID: 32441885 PMCID: PMC7318100 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) patients of different clinical subtypes (bvFTD, PPA, and FTLD‐MND) and with or without the C9orf72 repeat expansion, and to correlate sNfL levels to disease progression, assessed by the brain atrophy rate and survival time. Methods The sNfL levels were determined from 78 FTLD patients (C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers [n = 26] and non‐carriers [n = 52]) with Single Molecule Array (SIMOA). The progression of brain atrophy was evaluated using repeated T1‐weighted MRI scans and the survival time from medical records. Results In the total FTLD cohort, sNfL levels were significantly higher in C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers compared to non‐carriers. Considering clinical phenotypes, sNfL levels were higher in the C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers than in the non‐carriers in bvFTD and PPA groups. Furthermore, sNfL levels were the highest in the FTLD‐MND group (median 105 pg/mL) and the lowest in the bvFTD group (median 27 pg/mL). Higher sNfL levels significantly correlated with frontal cortical atrophy rate and subcortical grey matter atrophy rate. The higher sNfL levels also associated with shorter survival time. Interpretation Our results indicate that the C9orf72 repeat expansion carriers show elevated sNFL levels compared to non‐carriers and that the levels differ among different clinical phenotypes of FTLD. Higher sNfL levels correlated with a shorter survival time and cortical and subcortical atrophy rates. Thus, sNfL could prove as a potential prognostic biomarker in FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti Cajanus
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kasper Katisko
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Aleksi Kontkanen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Jääskeläinen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Päivi Hartikainen
- Neuro Center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sanna-Kaisa Herukka
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Neuro Center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ritva Vanninen
- Department of Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Neuro Center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anette Hall
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne M Remes
- Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
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García-Gutiérrez MS, Navarrete F, Sala F, Gasparyan A, Austrich-Olivares A, Manzanares J. Biomarkers in Psychiatry: Concept, Definition, Types and Relevance to the Clinical Reality. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:432. [PMID: 32499729 PMCID: PMC7243207 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last years, an extraordinary effort has been made to identify biomarkers as potential tools for improving prevention, diagnosis, drug response and drug development in psychiatric disorders. Contrary to other diseases, mental illnesses are classified by diagnostic categories with a broad variety list of symptoms. Consequently, patients diagnosed from the same psychiatric illness present a great heterogeneity in their clinical presentation. This fact together with the incomplete knowledge of the neurochemical alterations underlying mental disorders, contribute to the limited efficacy of current pharmacological options. In this respect, the identification of biomarkers in psychiatry is becoming essential to facilitate diagnosis through the developing of markers that allow to stratify groups within the syndrome, which in turn may lead to more focused treatment options. In order to shed light on this issue, this review summarizes the concept and types of biomarkers including an operational definition for therapeutic development. Besides, the advances in this field were summarized and sorted into five categories, which include genetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenetics. While promising results were achieved, there is a lack of biomarker investigations especially related to treatment response to psychiatric conditions. This review includes a final conclusion remarking the future challenges required to reach the goal of developing valid, reliable and broadly-usable biomarkers for psychiatric disorders and their treatment. The identification of factors predicting treatment response will reduce trial-and-error switches of medications facilitating the discovery of new effective treatments, being a crucial step towards the establishment of greater personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Salud García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Sala
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain
| | - Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, Madrid, Spain
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67
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Naude JP, Gill S, Hu S, McGirr A, Forkert ND, Monchi O, Stys PK, Smith EE, Ismail Z. Plasma Neurofilament Light: A Marker of Neurodegeneration in Mild Behavioral Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 76:1017-1027. [PMID: 32597801 PMCID: PMC7504997 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessing neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in older adults is important for determining dementia risk. Mild behavioral impairment (MBI) is an at-risk state for cognitive decline and dementia, characterized by emergent NPS in later life. MBI has significantly higher dementia incidence than late life psychiatric conditions. However, its utility as a proxy for neurodegeneration has not been demonstrated. Plasma neurofilament light (NfL) is a validated biomarker of axonal damage, and has been shown to associate with hallmarks of neurodegeneration. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this investigation was to identify associations between NfL rate of change and the presence of MBI symptomatology. METHODS We evaluated the association of MBI with changes in NfL in a cohort (n = 584; MBI + n = 190, MBI- n = 394) of non-demented participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. MBI was determined by transforming Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire items using a published algorithm. Change in NfL was calculated over 2 years. RESULTS Time*MBI status was the only significant interaction to predict change in NfL concentrations (F(1,574) = 4.59, p = 0.032), even after controlling for age, mild cognitive impairment, and demographics. Analyses reclassifying 64 participants with new onset MBI over 2 years similarly demonstrated greater increases in NfL (F(1,574) = 5.82, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION These findings suggest MBI is a clinical proxy of early phase neurodegeneration with putative utility in identifying those at dementia risk. MBI can be used as a case ascertainment approach to capture those at high risk for cognitive decline and dementia, and is an important construct for clinicians dealing with cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptomatology in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P. Naude
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sascha Gill
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sophie Hu
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexander McGirr
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nils D. Forkert
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Oury Monchi
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter K. Stys
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Eric E. Smith
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zahinoor Ismail
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary
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