Authors: Marta Campagnolo, Eleonora Fiorenzato, Giulia Musso, Valentina Misenti, Simone Cauzzo, Annachiara Cagnin, Roberta Biundo, Cinzia Bussè, Carmelo Alessandro Fogliano, Stefano Mozzetta, Alessandra Codemo, Elisabetta Gasparoli, Stefania Moz, Marco Narici, Paola Pizzo, Maurizio Corbetta, Martina Montagnana, Angelo Antonini
Editor's Choice
Journal of the Neurological Sciences. REVIEW ARTICLE| Volume 476, 123617 September 15, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2025.123617
This article explores how blood-based biomarkers can aid in distinguishing between different neurodegenerative disorders. Diagnostic utility of serum and plasma NfL, GFAP, and pTau181 in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and related conditions evaluates three key markers: neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181), measured using ultra-sensitive Simoa® assays.
The study, which analysed 279 individuals from the PADUA-CESNE cohort, found that NfL was a sensitive indicator of neurodegeneration, particularly useful in differentiating atypical parkinsonisms (MSA, PSP) from controls. Elevated GFAP was linked to cognitive decline in both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, while combining GFAP with p-tau181 improved the ability to distinguish Alzheimer’s from Parkinson’s and other parkinsonian disorders. Integrating all three biomarkers further strengthened differentiation between Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementia.
As the authors conclude, “blood-based assays may enhance the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, providing valuable clinical insights.”
Web design by Tribal Systems