Neurofilament light as a blood biomarker for neurodegeneration in Down syndrome

• Background: Down syndrome (DS) may be considered a genetic form of Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to universal development of AD neuropathology, but diagnosis and treatment trials are hampered by a lack of reliable blood biomarkers. A potential biomarker is neurofilament light (NF-L), due to its association with axonal damage in neurodegenerative conditions. Methods: We measured blood NF-L concentrations in 100 adults with DS using Simoa NF-light® assays, and we examined relationships with age as well as cross-sectional and longitudinal dementia diagnosis. Results: NF-L concentrations increased with age (Spearman's rho = 0.789, p < 0.001), with a steep increase after age 40, and they were predictive of dementia status (p = 0.022 adjusting for age, sex, and APOE4), but they showed no relationship with long-standing epilepsy or premorbid ability. Baseline NF-L concentrations were associated with longitudinal dementia status. Conclusions: NF-L is a biomarker for neurodegeneration in DS with potential for use in future clinical trials to prevent or delay dementia.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Alzheimer's disease

Biomarker

Dementia

Down syndrome

Neurofilament light

apolipoprotein E4

biological marker

neurofilament light protein

neurofilament protein

unclassified drug

adolescent

adult

age

aged

Article

controlled study

cross-sectional study

epilepsy

female

follow up

human

intelligence

longitudinal study

major clinical study

male

nerve degeneration

predictive validity

priority journal

protein blood level

protein determination

sex difference

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)