We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Increase Accuracy of Neurodegenerative Disease Detection

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 Jul 2021
Increased accuracy in early detection of neurodegenerative diseases was obtained by adding determination of levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the framework that combines three Alzheimer's disease biomarkers - pathologic amyloid plaques (A), tangles (T), and neurodegeneration (N), collectively called ATN.

Neurofilament light chain, is a neurofilament protein that in humans is encoded by the NEFL gene. More...
It is a biomarker that can be measured in samples of cerebrospinal fluid or plasma with immunoassays and reflects axonal damage in a wide variety of neurological disorders. It is a useful marker for disease monitoring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and more recently Huntington's disease.

The ATN framework provides an in vivo diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using CSF biomarkers. However, ATN is rarely evaluated in pathologically confirmed patients and its poor sensitivity to suspected non-Alzheimer's syndromes, including frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), leads to misdiagnoses.

In this light, investigators at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Philadelphia, USA) compared accuracy of ATN using CSF total tau (ATNTAU) to a modified strategy using CSF neurofilament light chain (ATNNfL) in an autopsy cohort.

Results revealed that ATNNfL more accurately identified FTLD than ATNTAU, even in cases with co-occurring AD and FTLD. ATNNfL misclassified fewer AD and FTLD as "normal" (2%) than ATNTAU (14%).

"CSF biomarkers work similarly to a pregnancy test, offering a simple positive or negative result when enough of a substance is detected. But like a pregnancy test, biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease can provide false negatives or positives," said first author Dr. Katheryn A.Q. Cousins, research associate in neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "Alzheimer's is a diverse disease, and it is common for other conditions to also be present in the brain. The ATN framework may provide a more complete look at a person's diagnosis and give us a much richer understanding of not only Alzheimer's disease, but other co-occurring neurodegenerative conditions. However, to accomplish this, additional biomarkers that can detect other neurodegenerative conditions are critically needed."

"While the ATN framework is very exciting and offers much opportunity for patients with Alzheimer's disease, these biomarkers do not capture every case of the disease. We want to be able to detect and treat every patient with neurodegenerative disease as early as possible, and more research is needed to fully understand how biofluids track with the disease process," said Dr. Cousins. "I am eager to conduct additional research into which patients might be missed by these markers, what they have in common, and what causes the pathological and clinical differences in the disease."

The study demonstrating the advantage of adding neurofilament light protein to the ATN framework was published in the May 2021 issue of the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Related Links:
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine


Gold Member
Troponin T QC
Troponin T Quality Control
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Staining Management Software
DakoLink
New
Celiac Disease Test
Anti-Gliadin IgG ELISA
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: An “evolutionary” approach to treating metastatic breast cancer could allow therapy choices to be adapted as patients’ cancer changes (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Evolutionary Clinical Trial to Identify Novel Biomarker-Driven Therapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer, which occurs when cancer spreads from the breast to other parts of the body, is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Nearly 90% of patients with metastatic cancer will... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: A real-time trial has shown that AI could speed cancer care (Photo courtesy of Campanella, et al., Nature Medicine)

AI Accurately Predicts Genetic Mutations from Routine Pathology Slides for Faster Cancer Care

Current cancer treatment decisions are often guided by genetic testing, which can be expensive, time-consuming, and not always available at leading hospitals. For patients with lung adenocarcinoma, a critical... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Researchers Dr. Lee Eun Sook and Dr. Lee Jinhyung examine the imprinting equipment used for nanodisk synthesis (Photo courtesy of KRISS)

Multifunctional Nanomaterial Simultaneously Performs Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Immune Activation

Cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, have significant limitations. These treatments not only target cancerous areas but also damage healthy tissues, causing side effects... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.