Biomarkers · Neuro
Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL)
Lower values go with lower risk of death. Not measured in our NHANES panel. The curve is drawn from the published study (source below).
NfL and risk of death
Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher
Risk of death relative to the curve's reference value, drawn from the published study (source below).
What studies found when this marker was changed
They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.
Measured changes in NfL, study by study
2 effects with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Green points move the marker the way lower risk of death lies; amber the other way. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.
| Type | Intervention | Reported effect | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| clinical | Intrathecal debamestrocel (NurOwn) cell therapy in adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (phase 3) | CSF NfL reduced 11% from baseline vs 1.6% with placebo (p = .037); NfL reductions associated with less ALSFRS-R decline | RCT | Lindborg SR, Goyal NA, Katz J, et al. Debamestrocel multimodal effects on… |
| pharmacologic | Once-weekly dulaglutide for 2 years in adults with type 2 diabetes and baseline plasma NfL >=56 pg/mL (REWIND post hoc) | Plasma NfL fell 27.4% over 2 years with dulaglutide vs 14.2% with placebo (P=0.003) in participants with elevated baseline NfL | RCT | Wilson JM, Dage JL, Qian HR, et al. Dulaglutide and neurodegeneration… |
What else moves this marker
They describe those study groups, not an individual, and an association is not a cause.
Diseases and conditions
| What | Effect on the marker | Comparison · population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↑ Alzheimer's disease (CSF NfL) · ratio of CSF NfL concentration in AD vs controls (fold change) | ratio 2.35 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.91) | AD vs controls, CSF · 15699 AD patients and 13018 controls, 231 articles | meta analysis · PMID 27068280 |
| ↑ Alzheimer's disease (blood NfL) · serum/plasma NfL in AD vs healthy controls | SMD +1.09 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.7) | AD vs healthy controls · Dementia patients vs healthy controls | meta analysis · PMID 37264656 |
| ↑ Frontotemporal dementia (blood NfL) · serum/plasma NfL in FTD vs healthy controls | SMD +1.08 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.43) | FTD vs healthy controls · Dementia patients vs healthy controls | meta analysis · PMID 37264656 |
| ↑ Mild cognitive impairment (blood NfL) · serum/plasma NfL in MCI vs healthy controls | SMD +0.53 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.87) | MCI vs healthy controls · Patients with mild cognitive impairment vs healthy controls (studies published before July 2022) | meta analysis · PMID 37264656 |
| ↑ Multiple sclerosis (blood NfL) · blood NfL in MS patients vs controls | SMD +0.78 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.89) | MS vs controls · 68 studies | meta analysis · PMID 41389596 |
Sources
- Risk curve: Beydoun MA 2024 (PMID 38771439): all-cause HR 1.88 (1.6-2.2) per 1 SD of Loge NfL (reduced model); P < 0.001. Scaled to US values (NHANES).
- Beydoun MA, Noren Hooten N, Georgescu MF, Beydoun HA, Eid SM, Fanelli-Kuczmarski MT, et al. Serum neurofilament light chain as a prognostic marker of all-cause mortality in a national sample of US adults. Eur J Epidemiol. 2024;39(7):795-809.
Map Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) against another biomarker.