A neuronal blood marker is associated with mortality in old age
Authors/Creators
- 1. 1Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany. 2German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- 2. 3Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; 4Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanfor¬d, California, USA; 5Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- 3. 6Danish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- 4. 3Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA; 4Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanfor¬d, California, USA
- 5. 6Danish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; 7 Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 8Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- 6. 9Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
- 7. 9Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany; 10Institute of Healthy Ageing, Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, UK.
- 8. 6Danish Aging Research Center, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; 7 Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Description
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has emerged as a promising blood biomarker for the progression of various neurological diseases. NfL is a structural protein of nerve cells and elevated levels in blood are thought to mirror damage to the nervous system. We find that plasma NfL levels increase in humans with age (n=122; 21–107 years of age) and correlate with changes in other plasma proteins linked to neural pathways. In centenarians (n=135) plasma NfL levels are associated with mortality equally or better than previously described multi-item scales of cognitive or physical functioning, and this observation was replicated in an independent cohort of nonagenarians (n=180). Plasma NfL also increases in aging mice (n=114; 2–30 months of age) and dietary restriction, a paradigm that extends lifespan in mice, attenuates the age-related increase of plasma NfL. These observations suggest a contribution of nervous system functional deterioration to late life mortality.
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