Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00210

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Neurofilament light chain may serve as a cross-species blood biomarker to assess aging and predict mortality.

Bergmann, C. (First author)DZNE* ; Häsler, L. M.DZNE* ; Lambert, M.DZNE* ; Kaeser, S. A.DZNE* ; Schultz, S. A. ; Riond, B. ; Weiss, M. ; Balz, M. ; Knauf-Witzens, T. ; Jucker, M. (Last author)DZNE*

2026
PLoS Lawrence, KS

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003606

Abstract: Blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) increase with age in healthy humans and have been shown to predict all-cause human mortality. To determine whether this relationship is conserved across species, we analyzed NfL in the blood of various animals. We observed age-related increases in NfL levels comparable to those seen in humans in mice, cats, dogs and horses. Longitudinal analysis of NfL trajectories in aged mice demonstrated that a faster rate of NfL increase predicts mortality. When comparing baseline NfL levels across 13 species, we found that those with lower baseline NfL levels tended to have longer lifespans; however, the collinearity between body size and life span complicates the interpretation of this finding. NfL was also robustly detected in blood of 39 additional mammalian species, as well as a few reptiles and birds, consistent with a conserved amino acid sequence of the NfL fragment in blood. Given the growing interest in NfL as a biomarker for neurological health and mortality in humans, our findings suggest that NfL may serve as a cross-species blood biomarker for assessing aging interventions and predicting mortality.

Keyword(s): Neurofilament Proteins: blood (MeSH) ; Animals (MeSH) ; Biomarkers: blood (MeSH) ; Aging: blood (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Mice (MeSH) ; Dogs (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Cats (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Longevity (MeSH) ; Species Specificity (MeSH) ; Horses (MeSH) ; Neurofilament Proteins ; Biomarkers ; neurofilament protein L

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Cell Biology of Neurological Diseases (AG Jucker)

Research Program(s):

1. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

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