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Cited by 213Hereditary Neurological DisordersDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchPeripheral Neuropathies and Disorders

Renal function is associated with blood neurofilament light chain level in older adults

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Akamine, Shoshin, Marutani, Noriko, Kanayama, Daisuke, Gotoh, Shiho, Maruyama, Riki, Yanagida, Kanta, Sakagami, Yukako, Mori, Kohji +9 more·2020·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-76990-7PMC PMC7683708
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Abstract

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a novel biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases. It is detectable in the peripheral blood, allowing low-invasive assessment of early signs of neurodegeneration. The level of NfL gradually increases with age; however, what other factors affect it remains unclear. The present study examined the association between blood NfL level and renal function among healthy participants undergoing a health check (n = 43, serum NfL) and patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 188, plasma NfL). All participants were 60 years of age or older; none were diagnosed with dementia. In each group, levels of blood NfL and serum creatinine significantly correlated (coefficient r = 0.50, 0.56). These associations remained statistically significant even after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. These findings indicate that blood NfL level might be partially affected by renal function. We recommend measuring renal function for a more precise evaluation of neuroaxonal damage, in particular, among older adults.

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  • Combining patients from multiple cohorts with different sample types (serum or plasma) led to stratification per cohort and a reduction of statistical power.

    “Due to differences in sample type (serum or plasma), results were stratified per cohort, which lead to a reduction of statistical power, while ideally one would convert concentrations between serum and plasma and use them combined.”

    From A Method to Combine Neurofilament Light Measurements From Blood Serum and Plasma in Clinical and Population-Based Studies (2022) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Results table identifies serum NfL in the HC group and plasma NfL in the DM group, and the Discussion reports correlations separately for each group. The Discussion also says the HC analysis was underpowered, but attributes this to its sample size and narrow age distribution—not to stratification by sample type. The paper does not propose converting serum and plasma concentrations to combine the groups. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The negative correlation between kidney function and NfL partially explains the link between hypertension and a poorer prognosis after ALS diagnosis.

    “In a sample of healthy individuals over 60 years, kidney function was found to negatively correlate with neurofilament light chain (NfL) [47], partially explaining the link between hypertension and a poorer prognosis after ALS diagnosis.”

    From Lifestyle and medical conditions in relation to ALS risk and progression—an introduction to the Swedish ALSrisc Study (2024) · cites this paper as [47]

    The Results report a negative correlation between estimated kidney function (eGFR) and blood NfL in healthy participants aged 60 or older. The paper does not examine whether that correlation explains a link between hypertension and prognosis after ALS diagnosis; its Discussion also says the cross-sectional study did not assess causality. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Akamine et al. reported a relationship between blood NfL concentration and renal function in healthy individuals (serum NfL) and patients with diabetes mellitus (plasma NfL).

    “Akamine et al. (11) have already reported on the relationship between blood NfL concentration and renal function in healthy individuals (based on serum NfL) and patients with diabetes mellitus (based on plasma NfL).”

    From A Method to Combine Neurofilament Light Measurements From Blood Serum and Plasma in Clinical and Population-Based Studies (2022) · cites this paper as [11]

  • In a sample of healthy individuals over 60 years, kidney function was found to negatively correlate with neurofilament light chain (NfL).

    “In a sample of healthy individuals over 60 years, kidney function was found to negatively correlate with neurofilament light chain (NfL) [47], partially explaining the link between hypertension and a poorer prognosis after ALS diagnosis.”

    From Lifestyle and medical conditions in relation to ALS risk and progression—an introduction to the Swedish ALSrisc Study (2024) · cites this paper as [47]

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References 32 · Cited by 213

Research works printed but not linked: 28

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Authors
Akamine, S., Marutani, N., Kanayama, D., Gotoh, S., Maruyama, R., Yanagida, K., Sakagami, Y., Mori, K., Adachi, H., Kozawa, J., Maeda, N., Otsuki, M., Matsuoka, T., Iwahashi, H., Shimomura, I., Ikeda, M., & Kudo, T.
Affiliations
  • The University of Osaka (JP)
  • Toyonaka Municipal Hospital (JP)
Corresponding author
Kudo, Takashi
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-11-23
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
20350-20350
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-020-76990-7
PMC
PMC7683708
OpenAlex
W3107584533
Cited by
213
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 16
FWCI
11.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (19K23943, JP17H05091)
  • Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (JP18ek0109316, JP19dk0207039, JP19dk0207042)
  • SENSHIN Medical Research Foundation
  • Takeda Science Foundation
  • Mochida Memorial Foundation for Medical and Pharmaceutical Research
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Hereditary Neurological Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
Keywords
neurofilament light chain, renal function, serum creatinine, neurodegeneration biomarkers, neuroaxonal damage, diabetes mellitus, older adults
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Creatinine, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Biomarkers, Body Mass Index, Neurofilament Proteins, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Renal Insufficiency

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