Blood test can predict progression to Alzheimer's disease

Neuroscience researchers at Wayne State University published a review article that confirms the usefulness of neurofilament light (NfL) blood levels to predict the likelihood and rate of progression of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Blood-based NfL is a minimally invasive and easily accessible biomarker, making it a useful clinical biomarker.

Though NfL levels also increase in typical aging as a non-specific marker of neuronal damage, the levels, as well as the rate of increase, seen in Alzheimer’s dementia are higher. Higher serum NfL is also correlated with more severe brain glucose hypometabolism, and diminished white matter integrity, in persons on the Alzheimer’s continuum.

Longitudinal studies also consistently found significant relationships between blood NfL and atrophy in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

The review of the cross-sectional and longitudinal literature showed that blood NfL levels consistently predicted the severity of atrophy and glucose metabolism in brain areas commonly affected by Alzheimer’s pathology. The work highlights that blood NfL is a useful prognostic marker for predicting the progression of neurodegeneration, as well as being a useful marker to assess the risk that a cognitively unimpaired person with a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease will show abnormal changes in brain structure and function.

Reference: “The Potential of Blood Neurofilament Light as a Marker of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease,” is published in the journal Brain, Aug. 4, 2023, (doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad267)