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Association of Plasma GFAP and NfL in Middle-Aged Adults With MRI Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Later in Life
Savvina Prapiadou, Benjamin YQ Tan, Tamara N. Kimball, Samantha A. Mora, Reinier W. P. Tack, Devanshi Choksi, Marie‐Gabrielle Duperron, Jasper Rudolf Senff et al.. Neurology, 2025-12-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
= 0.025) over 3 years. NfL was not significantly associated with any MRI cSVD marker. Longitudinal changes in both biomarkers showed no significant associations with concurrent MRI progression. Plasma GFAP levels were associated with subsequent changes in white matter integrity among middle-aged adults, suggesting potential utility as an early indicator of cSVD vulnerability. These associations, observed nearly a decade after biomarker measurement, highlight GFAP's potential for long-term risk stratification. Blood-based biomarkers may support earlier identification of individuals at heightened risk of cSVD, enabling preventive strategies when interventions may be most effective.
Key findings
- NfL was not significantly associated with any MRI cSVD marker.
- Longitudinal changes in both biomarkers showed no significant associations with concurrent MRI progression.
- Plasma GFAP levels were associated with subsequent changes in white matter integrity among middle-aged adults, suggesting potential utility as an early indicator of cSVD vulnerability.
- These associations, observed nearly a decade after biomarker measurement, highlight GFAP's potential for long-term risk stratification.
- Blood-based biomarkers may support earlier identification of individuals at heightened risk of cSVD, enabling preventive strategies when interventions may be most effective.
Why it matters
In middle-aged adults, plasma GFAP levels were associated with later changes in white matter integrity, while NfL was not significantly associated with any MRI marker of cerebral small vessel disease, and longitudinal changes in both biomarkers showed no significant associations with concurrent MRI progression. This suggests GFAP might help identify people at risk of small vessel disease years in advance, but it is a biomarker finding, not a treatment or cure.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Christopher D. Anderson: h-index 65 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Broad Institute: institution h-index 2,541 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41461058) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Prapiadou, S., Tan, B. Y. Q., Kimball, T. N., Mora, S. A., Tack, R. W. P., Choksi, D., et al. (2025). Association of Plasma GFAP and NfL in Middle-Aged Adults With MRI Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Later in Life. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000214481
Vancouver
Prapiadou S, Tan BYQ, Kimball TN, Mora SA, Tack RWP, Choksi D, et al. Association of Plasma GFAP and NfL in Middle-Aged Adults With MRI Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Later in Life. Neurology. 2025. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000214481. PMID: 41461058.
BibTeX
@article{prapiadou2025-41461058,
author = {Prapiadou, Savvina and Tan, Benjamin YQ and Kimball, Tamara N. and Mora, Samantha A. and Tack, Reinier W. P. and Choksi, Devanshi and Duperron, Marie‐Gabrielle and Senff, Jasper Rudolf and others},
title = {{Association of Plasma GFAP and NfL in Middle-Aged Adults With MRI Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Later in Life}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000214481},
pmid = {41461058},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000214481}
}
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