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Updated: Nov 12, 2025
A High Throughput, Multiplexed and Targeted Proteomic CSF Assay to Quantify Neurodegenerative Biomarkers and Apolipoprotein E Isoforms Status
Published on: October 20, 2016
Sex differences in CSF biomarkers for neurodegeneration and blood-brain barrier integrity
Tobias Skillbäck1,2,3, Kaj Blennow1,3, Henrik Zetterberg1,3,4,5
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg Mölndal Sweden.
Introduction:
As cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light protein (NfL) and the CSF/serum albumin ratio (QAlb) are used in the clinical routine, the impact of demographic factors on these biomarkers is important to understand.
Methods:
Participants were derived from two Swedish samples: the population-based H70 Study (n = 308, age 70) and a clinical routine cohort (CSF NfL, n = 8995, QAlb, n = 39252, age 0 to 95). In the population-based study, QAlb and NfL were examined in relation to sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs). In the clinical cohort, QAlb and NfL sex differences were tested in relation to age.
Results:
Men had higher QAlb and NfL concentrations and had higher QAlb and NfL concentrations from adolescence throughout life. NfL was not related to WML, but QAlb correlated positively with WMLs.
Discussion:
The CSF NfL sex difference could not be explained by vascular pathology. Future studies should consider using different reference limits for men and women.
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