F Taghdiri1, N Multani1, M Ozzoude1, A Tarazi2,3, M Khodadadi3, R Wennberg2,3,4, D Mikulis3,4,5, R Green3,6, B Colella3,6, K D Davis3,4,7,8, K Blennow9,10, H Zetterberg9,10,11,12, C Tator3,13, M C Tartaglia1,2,3,4. 1. Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Ontario, Toronto, Canada. 2. Division of Neurology, Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Canadian Concussion Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. 4. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 5. Division of Neuroradiology, Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 6. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 7. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 8. Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour-systems Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 9. Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden. 10. Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden. 11. Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK. 12. UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK. 13. Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (NF-L) levels in former professional contact sports athletes with multiple concussions (ExPro) as a potential biomarker of neurodegeneration and predictor of white-matter (WM) abnormality progression. METHODS: Concentrations of NF-L in the serum of fifty-two cognitively normal ExPro and twenty-one healthy controls (HC) with no history of concussions were measured using single molecule array (Simoa) technology. Both groups underwent neuroimaging at the time of serum collection. Eighteen of the participants in the ExPro underwent follow-up imaging after 2 years. RESULTS: Levels of serum NF-L were not significantly different between the ExPro and HC. However, in the ExPro group, NF-L levels were positively correlated with the mean diffusivity (MD) of corpus callosum (CC) and fornix, and total ventricular volume. Moreover, NF-L levels in the ExPro group at the first visit were positively correlated with the amount of increase in CC MD at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: NF-L levels reflect neuronal changes in the ExPro group and predict the extent of decrease in white matter integrity over time. Serum NF-L might be a biomarker of neurodegeneration and WM abnormality progression in ExPro.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (NF-L) levels in former professional contact sports athletes with multiple concussions (ExPro) as a potential biomarker of neurodegeneration and predictor of white-matter (WM) abnormality progression. METHODS: Concentrations of NF-L in the serum of fifty-two cognitively normal ExPro and twenty-one healthy controls (HC) with no history of concussions were measured using single molecule array (Simoa) technology. Both groups underwent neuroimaging at the time of serum collection. Eighteen of the participants in the ExPro underwent follow-up imaging after 2 years. RESULTS: Levels of serum NF-L were not significantly different between the ExPro and HC. However, in the ExPro group, NF-L levels were positively correlated with the mean diffusivity (MD) of corpus callosum (CC) and fornix, and total ventricular volume. Moreover, NF-L levels in the ExPro group at the first visit were positively correlated with the amount of increase in CC MD at the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:NF-L levels reflect neuronal changes in the ExPro group and predict the extent of decrease in white matter integrity over time. Serum NF-L might be a biomarker of neurodegeneration and WM abnormality progression in ExPro.
Authors: Anna Vasilevskaya; Foad Taghdiri; Namita Multani; Miracle Ozzoude; Apameh Tarazi; Mozhgan Khodadadi; Richard Wennberg; Pablo Rusjan; Sylvain Houle; Robin Green; Brenda Colella; Kaj Blennow; Henrik Zetterberg; Thomas Karikari; David Mikulis; Lili-Naz Hazrati; Gabor G Kovacs; Karen Deborah Davis; Charles Tator; Maria Carmela Tartaglia Journal: J Neurol Date: 2022-06-25 Impact factor: 6.682
Authors: Saurabh Sihag; Sébastien Naze; Foad Taghdiri; Melisa Gumus; Charles Tator; Robin Green; Brenda Colella; Kaj Blennow; Henrik Zetterberg; Luis Garcia Dominguez; Richard Wennberg; David J Mikulis; Maria C Tartaglia; James R Kozloski Journal: Commun Med (Lond) Date: 2022-01-17
Authors: Adam C Raikes; Gerson D Hernandez; Veronica A Mullins; Yiwei Wang; Claudia Lopez; William D S Killgore; Floyd H Chilton; Roberta D Brinton Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 4.086