Plasma NfL, GFAP, and pTau181 in patients with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder
High plasma NfL and GFAP levels in iRBD patients reflect a possible ongoing neurodegenerative process. Normal pTau181 plasma levels in iRBD suggest that AD-related neurodegeneration is not present at this stage. Future studies on plasma markers predicting phenoconversion are crucial for setting neuroprotective interventions in iRBD patients. Statement of Significance This study identifies plasma biomarkers that reflect neurodegeneration in idiopathic/isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), a prodromal stage of α-synucleinopathies. Higher plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels in iRBD patients compared to healthy controls suggest early neuronal and glial degeneration, while similar phosphorylated-Tau 181 levels indicate an absence of Alzheimer's disease co-pathology. These findings support the utility of NfL and GFAP as potential blood-based markers for tracking early neurodegenerative changes in iRBD. Further studies focusing on these markers in predicting disease progression could be instrumental in guiding timely neuroprotective interventions.
Authors
- Andrea Rizzardi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4568-0018)
- Matteo Carpi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6933-5675)
- Alessandro Lupini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0546-6543)
- Flavia Cirillo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5868-9352)
- Silvia Clara Giliani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8137-4642)
- Greta Testone
- Chiara Tolassi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8741-1313)
- Virginia Quaresima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8858-3236)
- Riccardo Benedetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4506-234X)
- Mariana Fernandes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7005-2805)
- Cinzia Zatti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5648-0408)
- G Bergamo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4790-9599)
- Nicola Biagio Mercuri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6700-7491)
- Alice Galli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7804-5106)
- Claudio Liguori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2845-1332)
- Alessandro Padovani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0119-3639)
- Chiara Trasciatti
- Irene Risino
- Andrea Pilotto
- Matteo Antonucci
- Desirèe Caon
- Irene Girotto
- Klaudia Eshja
Institutions
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Brescia University (US)
- Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia (IT)
- University of Brescia (IT)
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- SLEEP
- Published
- 2025-06-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf163
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 8.34