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Neurofilament light chain (NfL) across conditions

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) appears in 5 entries of the OSMF biomarker atlas, covering Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, Long COVID, ME/CFS, Multiple Sclerosis, PACVS. Across those entries it is elevated in 4, mixed in 1. Because the same marker shifts in several unrelated conditions, it is best understood as a signal of shared biology such as inflammation, vascular or metabolic stress rather than as a condition-specific test. Each row below links to a page with the comparison group, associated symptoms, test details and primary citation.

Alzheimer's Disease and Other DementiasLong COVIDME/CFSMultiple SclerosisPACVS

Where Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is reported

Also listed as: Axonal damage; Axonal damage marker; Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL)

ConditionDirectionCompared againstAssociated symptomsSource
Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias↑ elevatedAD vs healthy/non-AD (core CSF biomarker)—Abukuri et al. 2024
Long COVID↑ elevatedhealthy controlsNeurological LC, brain fogLai et al. 2023
ME/CFS↕ inconsistenthealthy controlsCognitive dysfunction subsetMaksoud et al. 2023
Multiple Sclerosis↑ elevatedMS relapse/disease activity vs healthy—Chitnis et al. 2025
PACVS↑ elevatedhealthy controlsElevated sNfL in >30% of PACVS registry cohortMundorf et al. 2024

Frequently asked questions

In which conditions is Neurofilament light chain (NfL) altered?

In the OSMF atlas Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is reported in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, Long COVID, ME/CFS, Multiple Sclerosis, PACVS. It is elevated in 4, mixed in 1 across 5 entries.

Does Neurofilament light chain (NfL) point to one specific diagnosis?

No. Because Neurofilament light chain (NfL) changes in several conditions (Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, Long COVID, ME/CFS, Multiple Sclerosis, PACVS), an abnormal result cannot identify which condition, if any, is present. It must be interpreted with symptoms, history and other tests.

What is the LOINC code for Neurofilament light chain (NfL)?

Entries in this atlas use LOINC 94635-5. LOINC codes identify the laboratory observation so results can be compared across systems.

Is one abnormal Neurofilament light chain (NfL) result diagnostic?

No single biomarker result is diagnostic of any of these conditions. Findings reflect group averages from published cohorts with substantial overlap between patients and controls.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). Neurofilament light chain (NfL) across conditions: biomarker evidence. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/markers/neurofilament-light-chain-nfl.html
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-03 · Browse: Biomarker Index · All marker pages · Biomarker Atlas

Disclaimer: Educational synthesis of peer-reviewed research; not medical advice. Findings are group-level and vary with study design. Discuss any result with a qualified clinician.