Neurofilament light as a blood biomarker for neurodegeneration in down syndrome

• Main Authors: Strydom, Andre, Heslegrave, Amanda, Startin, Carla M., Mok, Kin Y., Hardy, John, Groet, Jurgen, Nizetic, Dean, Zetterberg, Henrik
• Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Alzheimer's Disease; Down Syndrome
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/81011; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/45065
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

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.