Hoffmann Mia¹, Weber Jonas², Schneider Lea³, König Paul⁴, Lehmann Lily⁵, Wolf Samuel⁶, Franke Zoe⁷, Lang David⁸
ABSTRACT:
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is emerging as a robust and universal biomarker of axonal damage across a wide range of neurological diseases. This review discusses the biological function of NfL, its measurement in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, and its clinical utility in diagnosing and monitoring neurodegenerative, inflammatory, traumatic, and vascular disorders of the nervous system. Advances in ultrasensitive immunoassays such as SIMOA have enabled detection of NfL in peripheral blood, facilitating non-invasive, longitudinal monitoring of disease activity and therapeutic response. NfL’s broad applicability, correlation with disease severity, and prognostic value make it a cornerstone candidate for precision neurology.