Plasma neurofilament light protein is differentially associated with age in individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder compared to controls

Psychiatry Res. 2024 Sep:339:116073. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116073. Epub 2024 Jul 4.

Abstract

Accelerated brain ageing has been observed in multiple psychiatric disorders. This study examined whether relationships between age and plasma neurofilament light (NfL) protein differed in individuals with psychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder (n = 42), bipolar affective disorder (n = 121), treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS, n = 82)) compared to two healthy control (HC) groups (n = 1,926 and n = 59). Compared to two independent HC samples, individuals with TRS demonstrated a stronger positive relationship between age and NfL levels. Individuals with BPAD had a stronger negative relationship between age and NfL levels compared to the large normative HC cohort, but not locally-acquired HCs. These findings show that plasma NfL levels are differentially associated with age in individuals with TRS and BPAD compared to healthy individuals.

Keywords: Accelerated aging; Bipolar; Depression; Neurofilament; Psychiatric disorders; Psychiatry; Schizophrenia.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aging / blood
  • Bipolar Disorder* / blood
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurofilament Proteins* / blood
  • Schizophrenia / blood
  • Schizophrenia, Treatment-Resistant / blood
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • neurofilament protein L
  • Neurofilament Proteins