ArticleAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association2024
Plasma and CSF neurofilament light chain distinguish neurodegenerative from primary psychiatric conditions in a clinical setting.
Article in Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed.
- From case-control averages to validated subgroups: Interpreting inflammatory and neuroaxonal-injury biomarkers in schizophrenia and major depression.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2026Review
- Optimization and Validation of Plasma-Based Assay for Detection and Quantification of Monoamine Neurotransmitter Metabolites Using LC-MS/MS.ACS omega · 2026Article
- Definition of treatment-resistant late-life depression: Conclusions from a European Task Force Delphi process.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2026Article
- From Bench to Bedside: Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker in Ischemic Stroke.Current medical science · 2026Review
- Blood ATX(N) Biomarkers and Cognitive Dysfunction in Severe Mental Illnesses.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Clarifications and response to "Validating plasma biomarkers for distinguishing neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders" by Boccardi et al.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026Article
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: Diagnostic Value, Limitations, and Future Multi-Omics Strategies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Distinct contributions of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers to cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms in young-onset dementia.Acta neuropsychiatrica · 2025Article
- Biomarkers for Lewy body diseases and other alpha-synucleinopathies in biofluids: current evidence and future directions.Journal of translational medicine · 2025Review
- Combining plasma neurofilament light chain and frontotemporal atrophy improves differentiation of bvFTD from primary psychiatric disorders.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025Article
- Plasma p-tau217, NfL, GFAP diagnostic performance and biomarker profiles in Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and psychiatric disorders, in a prospective unselected neuropsychiatry memory clinic.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025Article
- Glymphatic activity in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: Link with vascular function and astrocytic activation.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025Article
- Blood Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration over Four Decades After Toxic Oil Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- Protein Misfolding and Aggregation as a Mechanistic Link Between Chronic Pain and Neurodegenerative Diseases.Current issues in molecular biology · 2025Review
- Blood biomarker profiles in young-onset neurocognitive disorders: A cohort study.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2025Article
- Strong diagnostic performance of plasma ptau217 for CSF biomarker-defined young-onset Alzheimer disease in a diagnostically heterogeneous clinical cohort.Journal of neurology · 2024Article
- Plasma and CSF neurofilament light chain distinguish neurodegenerative from primary psychiatric conditions in a clinical setting.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2024Article
- Using cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers to diagnose Alzheimer's disease: an Australian perspective.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Article
- Apathy and affective symptoms associated with elevated plasma neurofilament light but not p-tau181 in Alzheimer's disease.Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
31 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionPeople with neurodegenerative disorders (ND) frequently face diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis. We investigated blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain (NfL) to distinguish ND from primary psychiatric disorders (PPD), a common challenge in clinical settings.
methodsPlasma and CSF NfL levels were measured and compared between groups, adjusting for age, sex, and weight.
resultsA total of 337 participants were included: 136 ND, 77 PPD, and 124 Controls. Plasma NfL was 2.5-fold elevated in ND compared to PPD and had strong diagnostic performance (area under the curve, [AUC]: 0.86, 81%/85% specificity/sensitivity) that was comparable to CSF NfL (2-fold elevated, AUC: 0.89, 95%/71% specificity/sensitivity). Diagnostic performance was especially strong in younger people (40- < 60 years). Additional findings were cutoffs optimized for sensitivity and specificity, and issues important for future clinical translation.
conclusionsThis study adds important evidence for a simple blood-based biomarker to assist as a screening test for neurodegeneration and distinction from PPD, in clinical settings. HIGHLIGHTS: NfL levels were significantly higher in ND versus PPD. Plasma NfL showed strong diagnostic performance, comparable to CSF NfL, to distinguish ND from PPD. Diagnostic performance was higher in younger people, where diagnostic challenges are greater. Further research is needed on analytical and reference range factors, for clinical translation. These findings support a simple screening blood test for neurodegeneration.
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