Neurofilament light as a blood biomarker for neurodegeneration in Down syndrome

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neurofilament light as a blood biomarker for neurodegeneration in Down syndrome

AU - Strydom, André

AU - Heslegrave, Amanda

AU - Startin, Carla M.

AU - Mok, Kin Y.

AU - Hardy, John

AU - Groet, Jurgen

AU - Nizetic, Dean

AU - Zetterberg, Henrik

PY - 2018/4/10

Y1 - 2018/4/10

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1186/s13195-018-0367-x

DO - 10.1186/s13195-018-0367-x

M3 - Article

SN - 1758-9193

VL - 10

JO - Alzheimer's Research & Therapy

JF - Alzheimer's Research & Therapy

IS - 1

M1 - 39 (2018)

ER -