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Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases have increased levels of neurofilament protein in CSF
Rosengren LE, Karlsson JE, Karlsson JO, Persson LI, Wikkelsø C.. Journal of neurochemistry, 1996-11-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
In the present study we describe an ELISA to quantify the light subunit of the neurofilament triplet protein (NFL) in CSF. The method was validated by measuring CSF NFL concentrations in healthy individuals and in two well-characterized groups of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The levels were increased in ALS (1,743 +/- 1,661 ng/L; mean +/- SD) and AD (346 +/- 176 ng/L) compared with controls (138 +/- 31 ng/L; p < 0.0001 for both). Within the ALS group, patients with lower motor neuron signs only had lower NFL levels (360 +/- 237 ng/L) than those with signs of upper motor neuron disease (2,435 +/- 1,633 ng/L) (p < 0.05). In a second study patients with miscellaneous neurodegenerative diseases were investigated (vascular dementia, olivopontocerebellar atrophy, normal pressure hydrocephalus, cerebral infarctions, and multiple sclerosis), and the CSF NFL level was found to be increased (665 +/- 385 ng/L; p < 0.0001). NFL is a main structural protein of axons, and we suggest that CSF NFL can be used to monitor neurodegeneration in general, but particularly in ALS with involvement of the pyramidal tract.
Key findings
- The levels were increased in ALS (1,743 +/- 1,661 ng/L; mean +/- SD) and AD (346 +/- 176 ng/L) compared with controls (138 +/- 31 ng/L; p < 0.0001 for both).
- NFL is a main structural protein of axons, and we suggest that CSF NFL can be used to monitor neurodegeneration in general, but particularly in ALS with involvement of the pyramidal tract.
Why it matters
CSF levels of the neurofilament light protein were higher in patients with ALS and Alzheimer's disease than in controls, and higher in ALS patients with upper motor neuron signs. The authors suggest CSF NFL could be used to monitor neurodegeneration, but this is a measurement study, not a treatment.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neurochemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Neurochemistry: journal h-index 349 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 1 / 5 | 1996 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 498 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.6 citations a year over 32 year(s) since 1996 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 14 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 68 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Carsten Wikkelsø: h-index 61 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Gothenburg: institution h-index 972 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 8863508) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Rosengren, L. E., Karlsson, J. E., Karlsson, J. O., Persson, L. I., & Wikkelsø, C. (1996). Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases have increased levels of neurofilament protein in CSF. Journal of neurochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67052013.x
Vancouver
Rosengren LE, Karlsson JE, Karlsson JO, Persson LI, Wikkelsø C. Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases have increased levels of neurofilament protein in CSF. Journal of neurochemistry. 1996. doi:10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67052013.x. PMID: 8863508.
BibTeX
@article{rosengren1996-8863508,
author = {Rosengren, L. E. and Karlsson, J. E. and Karlsson, J. O. and Persson, L. I. and Wikkelsø, C.},
title = {{Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases have increased levels of neurofilament protein in CSF}},
journal = {Journal of neurochemistry},
year = {1996},
doi = {10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67052013.x},
pmid = {8863508},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.1996.67052013.x}
}
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