Differential levels of Neurofilament Light protein in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders
Constance Delaby, Daniel Alcolea, María Carmona‐Iragui, Ignacio Illán‐Gala, Estrella Morenas‐Rodríguez, Isabel Barroeta, Miren Altuna, Teresa Estellés, Miguel Santos‐Santos, Janina Turón‐Sans, Laia Muñoz, Roser Ribosa‐Nogué, Isabel Sala, Belén Sánchez-Saudinós, Andrea Subirana, Laura Videla, Bessy Benejam, Sònia Sirisi, Sylvain Lehmann, Olivia Belbin, Jordi Clarimón, Rafael Blesa, Javier Pagonabarraga, Ricard Rojas‐García, Juan Fortea, Alberto Lleó
Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are useful in the diagnosis and the prediction of progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. Among them, CSF neurofilament light (NfL) protein has particular interest, as its levels reflect neuroaxonal degeneration, a common feature in various neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we analyzed NfL levels in the CSF of 535 participants of the SPIN (Sant Pau Initiative on Neurodegeneration) cohort including cognitively normal participants, patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), Down syndrome (DS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS). We evaluated the differences in CSF NfL accross groups and its association with other CSF biomarkers and with cognitive scales. All neurogenerative diseases showed increased levels of CSF NfL, with the highest levels in patients with ALS, FTD, CBS and PSP. Furthermore, we found an association of CSF NfL levels with cognitive impairment in patients within the AD and FTD spectrum and with AD pathology in DLB and DS patients. These results have implications for the use of NfL as a marker in neurodegenerative diseases.