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Emerging Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), present diagnostic challenges due to overlapping symptoms and the lack of definitive biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Recent research has focused on identifying and validating biomarkers that can aid in the discrimination of these conditions and track disease progression.

Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL)

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has emerged as a prominent biomarker of neuroaxonal damage across various neurological disorders.Elevated levels of NfL in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood correlate with neuronal injury and are being investigated for their utility in differentiating between neurodegenerative conditions. A meta-analysis by angelopoulou et al. (2021) demonstrated the potential of CSF and circulating NfL levels in distinguishing PD from atypical parkinsonian syndromes. Furthermore, Buhmann et al. (2023) specifically examined NfL in Parkinson’s disease, highlighting its relevance in this context.

Biomarkers in Specific Diseases

In ALS, Anjum et al. (2025) reviewed emerging biomarkers, linking them to the pathogenesis and potential clinical applications of the disease. This research emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying disease mechanisms to identify effective biomarkers. For multiple Sclerosis, Ferreira-Atuesta et al. (2021) investigated the evolution of NfL, providing insights into its role in disease activity and progression.

Future Directions

While NfL shows promise, ongoing research aims to identify additional biomarkers and refine their use in clinical practice. Combining multiple biomarkers, along with advanced imaging techniques and clinical assessments, may provide a more thorough and accurate picture of neurodegenerative disease processes. Further studies are needed to standardize biomarker assays, establish normative values, and determine the predictive power of biomarkers for disease onset and progression.

References

• Angelopoulou, E., Bougea, A., Papadopoulos, A., Papagiannakis, N., Simitsi, A.M., Koros, C., Georgakis, M.K.,Stefanis,L. CSF and circulating NfL as biomarkers for the discrimination of Parkinson disease From atypical parkinsonian syndromes: meta-analysis. Neurol.Clin. Pract., 11: e867-e875, 2021; doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001116
• Anjum,F., Bakhuraysah, M., Alsharif, A., Mohammad, T., Shamsi, A., Hassan, M.I. Emerging biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: from pathogenesis to clinical applications. Front. Mol. Biosci., 12: 1608853, 2025; doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2025.1608853
• Buhmann, C., Magnus, T., Choe, C.U. Blood neurofilament light chain in Parkinson’s disease. J. Neural. Transm.,(Vienna). 130: 755-762, 2023; doi: 10.1007/s00702-023-02632-7
• Ferreira-Atuesta, C., Reyes, S., Giovanonni, G.,
  

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