Neurofilament Light may serve as new biomarker for Parkinson's Disease

In a new study conducted by Shannon Halloway and team it was seen that in a population-based sample, serum Neurofilament light (Nf-L) was linked to incident clinical Parkinson's disease (PD), parkinsonian symptoms, and physical functional decrease. The findings of this study were published in the journal of Neurology.

Blood biomarkers may help detect PD, parkinsonism, and poor Parkinson's disease related outcomes such as physical functioning early. Neurofilament light, a neuronal cytoplasmic protein, is a neurodegenerative biomarker that can be measured in biofluids. The goal of this study was to look at the relationship between serum Nf-L levels at the start of the study and clinically diagnosed Parkinson's disease, parkinsonian symptoms, and changes in physical functioning over the course of 16 years in a population-based sample of older persons.

The Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), a longitudinal population-based research, provided all of the data for this experiment. Using a structured version of the United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, clinical examinations included measuring parkinsonian indicators in four domains: parkinsonian, bradykinesia, stiffness, gait, and tremors. PD was diagnosed by board-certified neurologists. Chair stands, tandem walks, and timed walks were used to test physical functioning. The proportion of Nf-L in blood was determined using an ultrasensitive immunoassay.