An investigation into the relationship of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) with cognitive impairment as part of the Rotterdam study demonstrated that higher plasma NfL is associated with a decrease in cognitive performance. Joyce Van Arendonk, MSc, of the Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Netherlands, discusses the implications of these findings and explains the potential use of plasma NfL as a biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases. NfL may be a valuable biomarker as it can be measured non-invasively and can be used to capture changes in cognitive performance prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Joyce Van Arendonk suggests that future studies should observe the changes in plasma NfL values, rather than just observing the baseline, to determine how levels change over time and the effect of this on cognitive function. This interview took place during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), 2021.
