Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41463299›Full record

ArticleBiomolecules2025

The Possible Role of Neurofilament Light Chain as a Serum Biomarker in Anorexia Nervosa: Clinical Implications.

Andrea Amerio, Eleonora Martino, Antonella Strangio, Andrea Aguglia, Benedetta Conio, Samir Giuseppe Sukkar, Daniele Saverino

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biomolecules, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Andrea AmerioDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3439-340X
Eleonora MartinoIRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Antonella StrangioDepartment of Experimental Medicine (DiMeS), Section of Human Anatomy, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Andrea AgugliaDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2003-2101
Benedetta ConioIRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Samir Giuseppe SukkarIRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4194-1547
Daniele SaverinoIRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1623-1116

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeurofilament light chain (NfL) is a well-established biomarker of neuroaxonal damage, detectable in serum through immunoassays. Its potential relevance in psychiatric conditions, including anorexia nervosa (AN), is currently under investigation. This study aims to quantify serum NfL levels in individuals with AN, evaluate their correlation with autoantibodies detection, and critically examine the specificity of NfL as a biomarker in this context.

methodsA total of 100 participants were enrolled, comprising 50 individuals diagnosed with AN and 50 age-matched, normal-weight controls. Serum concentrations of NfL and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies reactive to hypothalamic antigens were measured using validated immunoassay techniques.

resultsSerum NfL concentrations were markedly higher in the AN group compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, NfL levels tended to decrease with longer disease duration and with the recovery of body mass index (BMI), indicating a possible association between clinical improvement and reduced neuroaxonal damage. Furthermore, the results confirmed the presence of anti-hypothalamic autoantibodies and revealed a positive correlation between their levels and serum NfL concentrations.

conclusionsClinical remission in AN appears to be linked to a decrease in both markers neuronal damage and hypothalamic autoimmunity. However, as elevated serum NfL is observed across a spectrum of neurological and psychiatric disorders, its specificity as a biomarker for AN should be further investigated. While NfL may reflect neuroaxonal injury in AN, its interpretation should be contextualized within a broader clinical and immunological framework.

Indexed as

Anorexia NervosaBiomarkersNeurofilament ProteinsAdolescentAdultAutoantibodiesCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansHypothalamusImmunoglobulin GMaleYoung AdultAutoantibodiesBiomarkersImmunoglobulin Gneurofilament protein LNeurofilament Proteinsanorexia nervosaanti-hypothalamus antibodyneurofilament light chain

Identifiers

PMID41463299
PMCPMC12730367

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.