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CSF neurofilament light chain and phosphorylated tau 181 predict disease progression in PSP
Rojas JC, Bang J, Lobach IV, Tsai RM, Rabinovici GD, Miller BL, Boxer AL, AL-108-231 Investigators.. Neurology, 2017-12-27
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective To determine the ability of CSF biomarkers to predict disease progression in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Methods We compared the ability of baseline CSF β-amyloid 1-42 , tau, phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau), and neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentrations, measured by INNO-BIA AlzBio3 or ELISA, to predict 52-week changes in clinical (PSP Rating Scale [PSPRS] and Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living [SEADL]), neuropsychological, and regional brain volumes on MRI using linear mixed effects models controlled for age, sex, and baseline disease severity, and Fisher F density curves to compare effect sizes in 50 patients with PSP. Similar analyses were done using plasma NfL measured by single molecule arrays in 141 patients. Results Higher CSF NfL concentration predicted more rapid decline (biomarker × time interaction) over 52 weeks in PSPRS ( p = 0.004, false discovery rate-corrected) and SEADL ( p = 0.008), whereas lower baseline CSF p-tau predicted faster decline on PSPRS ( p = 0.004). Higher CSF tau concentrations predicted faster decline by SEADL ( p = 0.004). The CSF NfL/p-tau ratio was superior for predicting change in PSPRS, compared to p-tau ( p = 0.003) or NfL ( p = 0.001) alone. Higher NfL concentrations in CSF or blood were associated with greater superior cerebellar peduncle atrophy (fixed effect, p ≤ 0.029 and 0.008, respectively). Conclusions Both CSF p-tau and NfL correlate with disease severity and rate of disease progression in PSP. The inverse correlation of p-tau with disease severity suggests a potentially different mechanism of tau pathology in PSP as compared to Alzheimer disease.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Rojas, J. C., Bang, J., Lobach, IV., Tsai, R. M., Rabinovici, G. D., Miller, B. L., et al. (2018). CSF neurofilament light chain and phosphorylated tau 181 predict disease progression in PSP. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000004859
Vancouver
Rojas JC, Bang J, Lobach IV, Tsai RM, Rabinovici GD, Miller BL, et al. CSF neurofilament light chain and phosphorylated tau 181 predict disease progression in PSP. Neurology. 2018. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000004859. PMID: 29282336.
BibTeX
@article{rojas2018-29282336,
author = {Rojas, J. C. and Bang, J. and Lobach, IV. and Tsai, R. M. and Rabinovici, G. D. and Miller, B. L. and Boxer, A. L. and {AL-108-231 Investigators}},
title = {{CSF neurofilament light chain and phosphorylated tau 181 predict disease progression in PSP}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000004859},
pmid = {29282336},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000004859}
}
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 names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results Higher CSF NfL concentration predicted more rapid decline (biomarker × time interaction) over 52 weeks in PSPRS ( p = 0.004, false discovery rate-corrected) and SEADL ( p = 0.008), whereas lower baseline CSF p-tau predicted faster decline on PSPRS ( p = 0.004).
- The CSF NfL/p-tau ratio was superior for predicting change in PSPRS, compared to p-tau ( p = 0.003) or NfL ( p = 0.001) alone.
- Higher NfL concentrations in CSF or blood were associated with greater superior cerebellar peduncle atrophy (fixed effect, p ≤ 0.029 and 0.008, respectively).
- The inverse correlation of p-tau with disease severity suggests a potentially different mechanism of tau pathology in PSP as compared to Alzheimer disease.
Why it matters
In progressive supranuclear palsy, higher CSF neurofilament light chain and lower CSF phosphorylated tau 181 predicted faster decline over 52 weeks, and higher NfL in CSF or blood was linked to greater superior cerebellar peduncle atrophy. These are markers of progression, not treatments, cures, or preventive measures.
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Study details
- Participants50
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 63/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a large phase 3 trial. Scored zero for effect reported 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 | 11 / 12 | A large phase 3 trial (from PubMed type “Clinical Trial, Phase III”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 50 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 112 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.2 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 42 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Bruce H. Morimoto: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29282336) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000004859
- PubMed: 29282336
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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