AgingResearch.NewsJoin free

Plasma neurofilament light chain

There are 10 papers on plasma neurofilament light chain in aging research: 1 trial and 6 observational studies in people, 2 in animals, 1 review. The newest story, Oct 25, 2026: “Nerve injury marker linked to death in community-living 75-year-olds”.

Biomarker

10 papers study it75 more mention it15 findings

3 new papers in 30 daysSee all 85

“In C9orf72 patients, levels were associated with the phenotype (ALS: 71.76 pg/mL, FTD: 37.16, psychiatric: 15.3; p=0.003)”
Plasma NfL levels and longitudinal change rates in C9orf72 and GRN-associated diseases: from tailored references to clinical applicationsJournal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry2021doi:10.1136/jnnp-2021-326914
  • Human trial1
  • Humans6
  • Animals2

Interventions

3

Dulaglutide

no changein humans1

1 study

  1. Dulaglutide showed no clear effect on plasma neurofilament light chain in humans (adjunctive to stable natalizumab).

    “no significant between-group differences were observed in plasma NfL, brain MRI volumetric measures, or cognitive performance”

    Human trialadjunctive to stable natalizumab0.75 mg once weekly12 months

    Adjunctive Dulaglutide in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Open-Label Proof-of-Concept Trial

    Neurology and therapy

More on Dulaglutide

Sedentary behavior

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Sedentary behavior is linked with higher plasma neurofilament light chain in humans (only when SB time ≥ 8.00 h/day) (significant only when SB time ≥ 8.00 h/day).

    “more daily SB time or less time spent in daily light-intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) was significantly associated with increased plasma NfL”

    Humansonly when SB time ≥ 8.00 h/dayn = 1,029

    Objectively-measured movement behaviors, systemic low-grade inflammation, and plasma neurofilament light chain in older adults: a population-based study

    Immunity & ageing : I & A

More on Sedentary behavior

Body mass index

no changein dogs1

1 study

  1. Body mass index showed no clear effect on plasma neurofilament light chain in dogs.

    “pNfL concentration did not correlate with sex, BMI or coat color.”

    Animalsn = 55

    Neurofilament light plasma concentration positively associates with age and negatively associates with weight and height in the dog

    Neuroscience letters

More on Body mass index

Upstream

4

Inflammation

mediatesin humans1

1 study

  1. Inflammation is linked with plasma neurofilament light chain in humans (14.5% to 17.8% of the associations between movement behaviors and plasma NfL).

    “The association of movement behaviors with neurodegeneration is partially mediated by low-grade inflammation.”

    Humanspartial mediation of the movement behaviors and plasma NfL association; low-grade inflammation score accounted for 14.5% to 17.8% of the associationsn = 1,029

    Objectively-measured movement behaviors, systemic low-grade inflammation, and plasma neurofilament light chain in older adults: a population-based study

    Immunity & ageing : I & A

More on Inflammation

Age

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Age is linked with higher plasma neurofilament light chain in controls (~5 to ~18 pg/mL, p<0.0001).

    “pNfL levels increased with age in controls, from ~5 to~18 pg/mL (p<0.0001)”

    Humansin controls

    Plasma NfL levels and longitudinal change rates in C9orf72 and GRN-associated diseases: from tailored references to clinical applications

    Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry

GRN

upin humans1

1 study

  1. GRN is linked with higher plasma neurofilament light chain in humans (compared with C9orf72 patients) (86.21 vs 39.49 pg/mL, p=0.014).

    “GRN patients had higher levels than C9orf72 (86.21 vs 39.49 pg/mL, p=0.014)”

    Humanscompared with C9orf72 patients

    Plasma NfL levels and longitudinal change rates in C9orf72 and GRN-associated diseases: from tailored references to clinical applications

    Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry

More on GRN

C9orf72 and GRN-associated disease

upin humans1

1 study

  1. C9orf72 and GRN-associated disease is linked with higher plasma neurofilament light chain in humans (ARC +26.7%, p<0.0001).

    “Patients displayed higher levels and greater longitudinal progression (ARC: +26.7%, p<0.0001)”

    Humans

    Plasma NfL levels and longitudinal change rates in C9orf72 and GRN-associated diseases: from tailored references to clinical applications

    Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry

More on C9orf72 and GRN-associated disease

Associations

8

Phthalates

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Phthalates are associated with plasma neurofilament light chain in humans (repeated-measures analysis) (β = 0.096; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.189).

    “the joint mixture across all three waves (β = 0.096; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.189) were associated with higher NfL levels.”

    Humansrepeated-measures analysisjoint mixture across all three wavesplasma2019–2023n = 330

    Urinary phthalate exposure in relation to plasma neurofilament light chain and cognitive function among older adults: Repeated-measures and cross-sectional analyses

    Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

More on Phthalates

Gait speed

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Gait speed is associated with plasma neurofilament light chain in humans (cognitively normal).

    “slower gait speed was associated with higher CSF tau/Aβ42 ratio (p = 0.027), CSF tTau/Aβ42 ratio (p = 0.009), and plasma NfL (p = 0.024)”

    Humanscognitively normaln = 246

    Sensorimotor measures predict longitudinal cognitive decline and correlate with CSF and plasma biomarkers.

    GSA 2025 abstract

More on Gait speed

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

upin humans1

1 study

  1. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is associated with plasma neurofilament light chain in C9orf72 patients (ALS 71.76 pg/mL, FTD 37.16, psychiatric 15.3; p=0.003).

    “In C9orf72 patients, levels were associated with the phenotype (ALS: 71.76 pg/mL, FTD: 37.16, psychiatric: 15.3; p=0.003)”

    Humansin C9orf72 patients

    Plasma NfL levels and longitudinal change rates in C9orf72 and GRN-associated diseases: from tailored references to clinical applications

    Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry

More on Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Body weight

downin dogs1

1 study

  1. Body weight is associated with plasma neurofilament light chain in dogs (lower body weight associated with higher pNfL) (P < 0.001).

    “decreased body weight (P < 0.001)”

    Animalslower body weight associated with higher pNfLn = 55

    Neurofilament light plasma concentration positively associates with age and negatively associates with weight and height in the dog

    Neuroscience letters

More on Body weight

Height

downin dogs1

1 study

  1. Height is associated with plasma neurofilament light chain in dogs (shorter stature associated with higher pNfL) (P = 0.009).

    “shorter stature (P = 0.009)”

    Animalsshorter stature associated with higher pNfLn = 55

    Neurofilament light plasma concentration positively associates with age and negatively associates with weight and height in the dog

    Neuroscience letters

More on Height

Age

upin dogs1

1 study

  1. Age is associated with plasma neurofilament light chain in dogs (P < 0.0001).

    “We found increased pNfL with age (P < 0.0001)”

    Animalsn = 55

    Neurofilament light plasma concentration positively associates with age and negatively associates with weight and height in the dog

    Neuroscience letters

More on Age

Neurodegenerative disease

upin dogs1

1 study

  1. Plasma neurofilament light chain is associated with neurodegenerative disease in dogs with degenerative myelopathy or canine cognitive dysfunction (84.17 ± 53.57 pg/mL in DM and 100.73 ± 83.72 pg/mL in CCD).

    “is significantly elevated in dogs diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease”

    Animalsin dogs with degenerative myelopathy or canine cognitive dysfunction

    Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain as a Translational Biomarker of Aging and Neurodegeneration in Dogs

    Molecular neurobiology

More on Neurodegenerative disease

Age

upin dogs1

1 study

  1. Plasma neurofilament light chain is associated with age in dogs (4.55 ± 1.70, 13.51 ± 6.8 and 47.1 ± 12.68 pg/mL in puppy/junior, adult/mature and geriatric/senior groups).

    “Plasma NfL increases in an age-dependent manner”

    Animals

    Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain as a Translational Biomarker of Aging and Neurodegeneration in Dogs

    Molecular neurobiology

Latest

Dec 2025: 14Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 2Apr 2026: 5May 2026: 4Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 1Aug 2026: 3Sep 2026: 5Oct 2026: 2Nov 2026: 038 papers in 12 months
European Heart Journal Open

Nerve injury marker linked to death in community-living 75-year-olds

Each doubling of the marker’s blood level was linked to higher mortality, with an adjusted hazard ratio—a relative-risk measure—of 1.91.Each doubling of the marker’s blood level was linked to higher mortality, with an adjusted hazard ratio—a relative-risk measure—of 1.91.

Cohort · 806 peopleBiomarkers
Paper
Alzheimer's & Dementia

Diet-related blood proteins are linked to Alzheimer's risk

Higher scores on a brain-healthy diet were associated with lower odds of Alzheimer's disease, with an odds ratio of 0.75, in 206 participants.Higher scores on a brain-healthy diet were associated with lower odds of Alzheimer's disease, with an odds ratio of 0.75, in 206 participants.

Cross-sectional study of 10,228 peopleMechanisms
Paper
Science Translational Medicine

Fenofibrate improves cognition in chronic brain injury trial

In a randomized trial of 40 older adults with chronic traumatic brain injury, fenofibrate lowered plasma neurofilament light chain levels and improved cognitive function.In a randomized trial of 40 older adults with chronic traumatic brain injury, fenofibrate lowered plasma neurofilament light chain levels and improved cognitive function.

Randomized trial in 40 peopleInterventions
Paper

See all 85

Related