Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker for Monitoring the Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Alcohol Use Disorder

Tian Zhang; Bin Song; Yanfei Li; Ranran Duan; Zhe Gong; Lijun Jing; Kaixin Wang; Bingquan Ma; Yanjie Jia

doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2022.831901

Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker for Monitoring the Efficacy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Alcohol Use Disorder

Front Behav Neurosci. 2022 Feb 7:16:831901. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.831901. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Tian Zhang¹, Bin Song¹, Yanfei Li², Ranran Duan², Zhe Gong², Lijun Jing², Kaixin Wang², Bingquan Ma¹, Yanjie Jia²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
² Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels, alcohol consumption, craving, and psychological impairment in participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods: Participants with AUD were randomly assigned to receive one of two treatments (active or sham rTMS). All participants received 10 daily active or sham rTMS sessions over the left DLPFC for 2 weeks, with follow-up visits at baseline and immediately after the completion of the treatments. Serum samples were obtained before and after the intervention. Days of heavy drinking, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and mental health component scores (MCSs) of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were used to assess the effects of rTMS.

Results: Active rTMS had a significant effect on reducing days of heavy drinking, alcohol craving, and serum NfL levels, and improved social functioning and mental health. The improvement with active rTMS was significantly greater than that with sham rTMS. Correlation analysis revealed that the reduction in the baseline drinking level was positively correlated with declines in the VAS and NfL levels but not with psychological scores.

Conclusion: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left DLPFC was associated with reducing alcohol consumption and craving in patients with AUD and positively impacted neuropsychological and social function. Serum NfL levels may be useful as an early serological indicator of alcohol-induced brain injury.

Keywords: NfL; TMS; alcohol dependence; alcohol use disorder; biomarker; neurofilament light chain; neuropsychological assessment; transcranial magnetic stimulation.