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Liu HC, Lin WC, Chiu MJ, Lu CH, Lin CY, Yang SY. Development of an assay of plasma neurofilament light chain utilizing immunomagnetic reduction technology. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234519. [PMID: 32530970 PMCID: PMC7292381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Axonal damage leads to the release of neurofilament light chain (NFL), which enters the CSF or blood. In this work, an assay kit for plasma NFL utilizing immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) was developed. Antibodies against NFL were immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles to develop an IMR NFL kit. The preclinical properties, such as the standard curve, limit of detection (LoD), and dynamic range, were characterized. Thirty-one normal controls (NC), fifty-two patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) or PD dementia (PDD) and thirty-one patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were enrolled in the study evaluating the plasma NFL assay using an IMR kit. T-tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to investigate the capability for discrimination among the clinical groups according to plasma NFL levels. The LoD of the NFL assay using the IMR kit was found to be 0.18 fg/ml. The dynamic range of the NFL assay reached 1000 pg/ml. The NC group showed a plasma NFL level of 7.70 ± 4.00 pg/ml, which is significantly lower than that of the PD/PDD (15.85 ± 7.82 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and AD (19.24 ± 8.99 pg/ml, p < 0.001) groups. A significant difference in plasma NFL levels was determined between the PD and AD groups (p < 0.01). Through ROC curve analysis, the cut-off value of the plasma NFL concentration for differentiating NCs from dementia patients (AD and PD/PDD) was found to be 12.71 pg/ml, with a clinical sensitivity and specificity of 73.5% and 90.3%, respectively. The AUC was 0.868. Furthermore, the cut-off value of the plasma NFL concentration for discriminating AD from PD/PDD was found to be 18.02 pg/ml, with a clinical sensitivity and specificity of 61.3% and 65.4%, respectively. The AUC was 0.630. An ultrasensitive assay for measuring plasma NFL utilizing IMR technology was developed. Clear differences in plasma NFL concentrations were observed among NCs and PD and AD patients. These results imply that the determination of plasma NFL is promising not only for screening dementia but also for differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei-Che Lin
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Jang Chiu
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsien Lu
- Department of Diagnostic Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | | | - Shieh-Yueh Yang
- MagQu Co., Ltd., New Taipei City, Taiwan
- MagQu LLC, Surprise, Arizona, United States of America
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152
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Serum neurofilament light chain levels are associated with white matter integrity in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 142:104960. [PMID: 32522711 PMCID: PMC7363568 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a protein that is selectively expressed in neurons. Increased levels of NfL measured in either cerebrospinal fluid or blood is thought to be a biomarker of neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases. However, there have been limited investigations relating NfL to the concurrent measures of white matter (WM) decline that it should reflect. White matter damage is a common feature of Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesized that serum levels of NfL would associate with WM lesion volume and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics cross-sectionally in 117 autosomal dominant mutation carriers (MC) compared to 84 non-carrier (NC) familial controls as well as in a subset (N = 41) of MC with longitudinal NfL and MRI data. In MC, elevated cross-sectional NfL was positively associated with WM hyperintensity lesion volume, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity and negatively with fractional anisotropy. Greater change in NfL levels in MC was associated with larger changes in fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and radial diffusivity, all indicative of reduced WM integrity. There were no relationships with NfL in NC. Our results demonstrate that blood-based NfL levels reflect WM integrity and supports the view that blood levels of NfL are predictive of WM damage in the brain. This is a critical result in improving the interpretability of NfL as a marker of brain integrity, and for validating this emerging biomarker for future use in clinical and research settings across multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Serum NfL levels reflect white matter integrity in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease. Associations between NfL and white matter imaging are present throughout all brain regions. Longitudinal white matter alterations are associated with changes in blood NfL. Results improve interpretability of NfL as a marker of brain integrity.
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153
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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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154
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Decreased cerebrospinal fluid neuronal pentraxin receptor is associated with PET-Aβ load and cerebrospinal fluid Aβ in a pilot study of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 2020; 731:135078. [PMID: 32450185 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multifactorial pathological processes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begin decades prior to clinical onset. Early identification of patients at risk of developing AD using biomarkers reflecting various aspects of pathogenesis is necessary for prevention and early intervention. Cortical β-amyloid (Aβ) burden assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Aβ42 are validated biomarkers for early identification. Recently, alterations in levels of neuronal proteins, neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR) and neurofilament light (NfL), in the CSF have emerged as promising AD biomarkers. However, their association with Aβ deposition is not well understood. In this pilot study, we evaluate whether CSF NfL and NPTXR are associated with PET-Aβ imaging and core CSF biomarkers (Aβ42, T-tau, and P-tau). CSF samples were collected from a sub-cohort of participants from the Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of aging (AIBL) and categorized as either PET-Aβ positive (n = 15) or negative (n = 15). NPTXR was significantly lower in PET-Aβ positive than negative individuals (p = 0.04), and correlated with Aβ42 (rho = 0.69, p < 0.0001), T-tau (rho = 0.45, p = 0.01), and P-tau (rho = 0.51, p = 0.004). However, CSF NfL was not significantly different between PET-Aβ positive and negative individuals and did not correlate with any of the core CSF biomarkers. Similar associations of NPTXR and the core CSF biomarkers persisted in the cognitively normal individuals. Together, NPTXR concentration in CSF may be more sensitive NfL to identify AD risk during the preclinical stage, warranting further investigation into its contribution to AD pathogenesis.
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155
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Khaligh-Razavi SM, Sadeghi M, Khanbagi M, Kalafatis C, Nabavi SM. A self-administered, artificial intelligence (AI) platform for cognitive assessment in multiple sclerosis (MS). BMC Neurol 2020; 20:193. [PMID: 32423386 PMCID: PMC7236354 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-020-01736-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Accurate and repeatable measures of cognition have the potential to be used as markers of disease activity. METHODS We developed a 5-min computerized test to measure cognitive dysfunction in patients with MS. The proposed test - named the Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA) - is self-administered and language-independent. Ninety-one MS patients and 83 healthy controls (HC) took part in Substudy 1, in which each participant took the ICA test and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS). We assessed ICA's test-retest reliability, its correlation with BICAMS, its sensitivity to discriminate patients with MS from the HC group, and its accuracy in detecting cognitive dysfunction. In Substudy 2, we recruited 48 MS patients, 38 of which had received an 8-week physical and cognitive rehabilitation programme and 10 MS patients who did not. We examined the association between the level of serum neurofilament light (NfL) in these patients and their ICA scores and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores pre- and post-rehabilitation. RESULTS The ICA demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.94), with no learning bias, and showed a high level of convergent validity with BICAMS. The ICA was sensitive in discriminating the MS patients from the HC group, and demonstrated high accuracy (AUC = 95%) in discriminating cognitively normal from cognitively impaired participants. Additionally, we found a strong association (r = - 0.79) between ICA score and the level of NfL in MS patients before and after rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS The ICA has the potential to be used as a digital marker of cognitive impairment and to monitor response to therapeutic interventions. In comparison to standard cognitive tools for MS, the ICA is shorter in duration, does not show a learning bias, and is independent of language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed-Mahdi Khaligh-Razavi
- Cognetivity Ltd, London, UK. .,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Mahdiyeh Khanbagi
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Chris Kalafatis
- Cognetivity Ltd, London, UK.,South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Department of Old Age Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Seyed Massood Nabavi
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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156
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Zhao H, Mo M, Miao C, Li L, Yang H, Liu Y, Yang G. Association of serum biomarker neurofilament light concentration with post-stroke depression: A preliminary study. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2020; 64:17-25. [PMID: 32078857 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate serum neurofilament light (sNfL) levels in acute ischemic stroke and to assess whether sNfL are related to the severity of disease and a potential prognostic marker of post-stroke depression (PSD) during a 3-month follow-up period. METHODS This was a single-center prospective cohort study. The sNfL concentration was measured in baseline samples using the Simoa platform- Single Molecule Array technology. A psychiatrist administered the Structural Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV to all patients and made a diagnosis of PSD 3 months after stroke. The logistic regression was used to examine the association between sNfL and PSD. RESULTS In total, 236 ischemic stroke cases were included and finished the follow-up. In the follow-up, 55 patients were defined as PSD, thus the incidence rate was 23.3% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 17.9%-28.7%). Significant differences were observed between the sNfL levels in patients with PSD (124.8 pg/ml [interquartile range {IQR}: 59.6-159.2]) and in patients without PSD (35.9 pg/ml [IQR: 18.2-60.4]) levels (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, family history of depression, marital status, National Institutes of Health and Stroke Scale score, C-reactive protein and homocysteine levels, sNfL levels independently predicted the development of post-stroke depression. The crude and adjusted odds ratios [OR] (and 95%CI) of PSD associated with an IQR increase for sNfL were 3.38(2.29, 4.98) and 2.65(1.59, 4.04), respectively. According to receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) curves, the cut-off value of sNfL to predict PSD was 111.4 pg/ml with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84(95% CI, 0.78-0.90) and with the highest sensitivity (61.8%) and specificity (95.4%). CONCLUSIONS In this study, elevated level of sNfL is associated with higher risk of 3-month depression in patients with ischemic stroke and makes early diagnoses of depression. The study needs replication to ensure the validity of our preliminary results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongling Zhao
- Department of Three ward of Neurology, Central Hospital of Xinxiang City, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, China
| | - Menghui Mo
- Department of Three ward of Neurology, Central Hospital of Xinxiang City, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, China
| | - Cheng Miao
- Department of Three ward of Neurology, Central Hospital of Xinxiang City, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Three ward of Neurology, Central Hospital of Xinxiang City, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Three ward of Neurology, Central Hospital of Xinxiang City, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Three ward of Neurology, Central Hospital of Xinxiang City, Xinxiang, Henan 453000, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhuji Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Zhuji, Zhejiang 311800, China.
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157
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Gordon BA. Neurofilaments in disease: what do we know? Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 61:105-115. [PMID: 32151970 PMCID: PMC7198337 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurofilaments are proteins selectively expressed in the cytoskeleton of neurons, and increased levels are a marker of damage. Elevated neurofilament levels can serve as a marker of ongoing disease activity as well as a tool to measure response to therapeutic intervention. The potential utility of neurofilaments has drastically increased as recent advances have made it possible to measure levels in both the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. There is mounting evidence that neurofilament light chain (NfL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (NfH) are abnormal in a host of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review we examine how both of these proteins behave across diseases and what we know about how these biomarkers relate to in vivo white matter pathology and each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Gordon
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA; Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA.
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158
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Serum neurofilament light levels in normal aging and their association with morphologic brain changes. Nat Commun 2020; 11:812. [PMID: 32041951 PMCID: PMC7010701 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14612-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 327] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofilament light (NfL) protein is a marker of neuro-axonal damage and can be measured not only in cerebrospinal fluid but also in serum, which allows for repeated assessments. There is still limited knowledge regarding the association of serum NfL (sNfL) with age and subclinical morphologic brain changes and their dynamics in the normal population. We measured sNfL by a single molecule array (Simoa) assay in 335 individuals participating in a population-based cohort study and after a mean follow-up time of 5.9 years (n = 103). Detailed clinical examination, cognitive testing and 3T brain MRI were performed to assess subclinical brain damage. We show that rising and more variable sNfL in individuals >60 years indicate an acceleration of neuronal injury at higher age, which may be driven by subclinical comorbid pathologies. This is supported by a close association of sNfL with brain volume changes in a cross-sectional and especially longitudinal manner. Neurofilament (NfL) levels in CSF and blood have been established as a biomarker of neuronal damage in neurodegenerative diseases, and there is an age-dependent increase in NfL levels in CSF. Here the authors demonstrate that serum NfL levels increase in healthy aging people and predict and correlate with brain volume loss.
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159
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Wang P, Fan J, Yuan L, Nan Y, Nan S. Serum Neurofilament Light Predicts Severity and Prognosis in Patients with Ischemic Stroke. Neurotox Res 2020; 37:987-995. [PMID: 31898161 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-019-00159-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Serum neurofilaments are markers of axonal injury. We investigated whether serum neurofilament light (sNfL) is a potential prognostic marker of functional outcome in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). From May 2015 to December 2018, consecutive patients with AIS from the Department of Neurology of the Second Hospital of Jilin University were included. sNfL concentration was tested at baseline, and stroke severity was analyzed at admission using the NIHSS score. Functional outcome was assessed at discharge by the modified Rankin scale (mRS). The sNfL concentration was tested in 343 patients with a median value of 17.8 (IQR, 13.4-25.2) pg/ml. sNfL concentration paralleled lesion size (P = 0.035). At admission, 174 patients were defined as moderate-to-high stroke (NIHSS ≥ 5); the sNfL concentration in those patients were higher than that observed in patients with minor clinical severity [21.2 (IQR, 15.1-31.7) vs. 14.9 (11.8-19.4) pg/ml, P < 0.001]. For each 1 quartile increase of sNfL concentration, the unadjusted and adjusted risk of moderate-to-high stroke increased by 202% (with the OR of 3.04 (95% CI 2.15-4.32), P < 0.001) and 102% [2.02 (1.10-3.16), P = 0.001), respectively. At discharge, 85 patients (24.8%) had poor functional outcome (mRS, 3-6); the sNfL concentration in those patients were higher than that observed in patients with good outcome [24.1 (IQR, 18.8-33.9) vs. 15.7 (11.9-21.8) pg/ml, P < 0.001]. For each 1 quartile increase of sNfL concentration, the unadjusted and adjusted risk of poor outcome increased by 236% [with the OR of 3.36 (95% CI 2.23-5.06), P < 0.001] and 102% [2.29 (1.37-3.82), P < 0.001], respectively. The results show sNfL is meaningful blood biomarker to monitor stroke severity and functional outcome in ischemic stroke, suggesting that sNfL may play a role in stroke progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, No.218, Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, No.218, Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Yuan
- Pharmacy College of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Nan
- Traditional Chinese Medicine College of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanji Nan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, No.218, Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China.
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160
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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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161
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Aschenbrenner AJ, Gordon BA, Fagan AM, Schindler SE, Balota DA, Morris JC, Hassenstab JJ. Neurofilament Light Predicts Decline in Attention but Not Episodic Memory in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 74:1119-1129. [PMID: 32144992 PMCID: PMC7183899 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal fluid tau and neurofilament light (NfL) are two biomarkers of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Previous reports have shown that the influence of tau on cognitive decline depends on levels of amyloid burden whereas NfL predicts decline independently of amyloid. Most studies use a global cognitive composite as the primary outcome, and it is unknown if critical cognitive domain scores are similarly sensitive to rates of decline due to neurodegeneration. OBJECTIVE To examine the unique contribution of amyloid, tau, and NfL to rates of cognitive decline in multiple cognitive composites in a cognitively healthy, middle-aged to older adult cohort. METHODS A total of 255 participants (55% female; mean age = 66.2 years, range = 42.5-86.7 years) completed CSF studies and serial cognitive assessments to measure global cognition, episodic memory, and attentional control. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine rates of change on each composite score as a function of baseline biomarker levels. RESULTS Total tau predicted decline in attention regardless of amyloid status, but the relationship to global cognition and episodic memory was dependent on amyloid, replicating prior literature. NfL predicted decline in attention and global cognition, but not memory, and this effect was independent of amyloid status. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that NfL can be used to monitor cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer's disease and that an attentional control composite may be a better outcome for tracking general neurodegenerative effects on cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Aschenbrenner
- Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian A Gordon
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Anne M Fagan
- Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Suzanne E Schindler
- Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - David A Balota
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John C Morris
- Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jason J Hassenstab
- Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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162
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Abstract
The development of blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology as tools for screening the general population, and as the first step in a multistep process to determine which non-demented individuals are at greatest risk of developing AD dementia, is essential. Proteins that are reflective of AD pathology, such as amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), tau proteins [total tau (T-tau) and phosphorylated tau (P-tau)], and neurofilament light chain (NfL), are detectable in the blood. However, a major challenge in measuring these blood-based proteins is that their concentrations are much lower in plasma or serum than in the cerebrospinal fluid. Single molecule array (SiMoA) is an ultrasensitive technology that can detect proteins in blood at sub-femtomolar concentrations (i.e., 10-16 M). In this review, we focus on the utility of SiMoA assays for the measurement of plasma or serum Aβ42, P-tau, T-tau, and NfL levels and discuss future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Li
- Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michelle M Mielke
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
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163
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Mielke MM, Syrjanen JA, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Skoog I, Vemuri P, Machulda MM, Graff-Radford J, Knopman DS, Jack CR, Petersen RC, Kern S. Comparison of variables associated with cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament, total-tau, and neurogranin. Alzheimers Dement 2019; 15:1437-1447. [PMID: 31668594 PMCID: PMC6874755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Three cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of neurodegeneration (N) (neurofilament light [NfL], total-tau [T-tau], and neurogranin [Ng]) have been proposed under the AT(N) scheme of the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association Research Framework. METHODS We examined, in a community-based population (N = 777, aged 50-95) (1) what variables were associated with each of the CSF (N) markers, and (2) whether the variables associated with each marker differed by increased brain amyloid. CSF T-tau was measured with an automated electrochemiluminescence Elecsys immunoassay; NfL and Ng were measured with in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS Multiple variables were differentially associated with CSF NfL and T-tau levels, but not Ng. Most associations were attenuated after adjustment for age and sex. T-tau had the strongest association with cognition in the presence of amyloidosis, followed by Ng. Variables associations with NfL did not differ by amyloid status. DISCUSSION Understanding factors that influence CSF (N) markers will assist in the interpretation and utility of these markers in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Mielke
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Jeremy A Syrjanen
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden; Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden; Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL (H.Z.), London, UK
| | - Ingmar Skoog
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | | | - Mary M Machulda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ronald C Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Silke Kern
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
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164
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Long JM, Holtzman DM. Alzheimer Disease: An Update on Pathobiology and Treatment Strategies. Cell 2019; 179:312-339. [PMID: 31564456 PMCID: PMC6778042 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1562] [Impact Index Per Article: 312.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a heterogeneous disease with a complex pathobiology. The presence of extracellular β-amyloid deposition as neuritic plaques and intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau as neurofibrillary tangles remains the primary neuropathologic criteria for AD diagnosis. However, a number of recent fundamental discoveries highlight important pathological roles for other critical cellular and molecular processes. Despite this, no disease-modifying treatment currently exists, and numerous phase 3 clinical trials have failed to demonstrate benefits. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of AD pathobiology and discuss current treatment strategies, highlighting recent clinical trials and opportunities for developing future disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Long
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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