Overview of neurofilament light chain in mental disorders

Table 1 Population-based articles examining the association between neurofilament light chain concentrations and depressive symptoms

Ref.	Data source	Sample size	Age (years)
Song et al[31], 2024	NHANES	1301	20-75; 20-34: n = 348; 35-60: n = 643; 61-75: n = 310
Liu et al[32], 2024	NHANES	1765	Mean: 45.194; SD: 15.295; 20-59: n = 1297; ≥ 60: n = 468
Guo et al[33], 2024	NHANES	1881	20-75; < 60: n = 1412; ≥ 60: n = 469
Zhang et al[34], 2025	NHANES	1909	Mean: 47.135; SD: 15.488; < 40: n = 656; 40-59: n = 733; ≥ 60: n = 520
Gudmundsson et al[36], 2010	PPSW	78	Mean: 73.9; SD: 3.2
Schuurmans et al[37], 2024	Rotterdam Study cohort	3895	Mean: 71.78; SD: 7.37
Bellelli et al[38], 2025	MAPT	Plasma NfL levels were assessed either 1 (n = 465) or 2 years (n = 40) after the start of the trial	Median: 76; IQR: 7
Xu et al[39], 2024	NHANES	495	≥ 60; median: 66.0; IQR: 7.0
Xia et al[40], 2026	The Shanghai Aging Study	1658	Without depressive symptoms: Mean: 71.4; SD: 7.5. With depressive symptoms: Mean: 72.1; SD: 7.1

MAPT: The Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial; NHANES: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; PPSW: Prospective Population Study of Women in Göteborg; IQR: Interquartile range; SD: Standard deviation; NfL: Neurofilament light chain.