Markers in Neuropsychiatric Disorders (MiND) – utility of neurofilament light chain as a screening test in general practice
Project Details
This project explores the utility of neurofilament light chain as a marker of diagnosis, staging/severity, prognosis and health economics utility, in the early assessment and care for patients with undiagnosed neurocognitive, neurological and psychiatric symptoms, where there is a differential diagnosis of a possible neurodegenerative disorder.
Patron ID: PAT016
Project Lead:
Our 2020-2024 NHMRC Ideas Grant funded study aims to investigate the utility of plasma neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of neuronal injury, as a screening test for early and accurate diagnosis of neurological /neurodegenerative disorders in general practice. Particularly looking at younger onset dementia (YOD, age at onset <65 years) such as Alzheimer disease and frontotemporal dementia for patients first presenting with cognitive, neurological, and/or atypical onset or type of psychiatric symptoms.
The Patron dataset will help us to identify adult patients between 50 and 64 who presented to practices in the last 18 months with novel or changed psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, behavioural and personality changes. We will then contact them through their GP to take part in the biomarker study that may help to identify younger onset neurodegenerative disorders.